Gallium-containing magnesium alloy for potential use as temporary implants in osteosynthesis

In recent years magnesium alloys have been studied intensively with a view to their potential use in bioresorbable medical implants. In the present work the microstructure and the corrosion properties of a new bioresorbable Mg-4 wt% Ga-4 wt% Zn alloy and its variants with low Ca, Nd or Y additions were investigated. These alloys are of interest due to the efficacy of gallium as an element inhibiting bone resorption, osteoporosis, Paget's disease, and other illnesses. A severe plastic deformation technique of equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) was shown to provide the alloys with favorable mechanical properties. In addition, a desirable low rate of degradation in a simulated body fluid (Hanks’ solution) was achieved.