วัลลิภา อุนนาภิรักษ์. A Novel Method to Enhance the Corrosion Resistance of Magnesium Alloy for Bioimplant Application. Master's Degree(Chemical Engineering). King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi. KMUTT Library. : King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, 2010.
A Novel Method to Enhance the Corrosion Resistance of Magnesium Alloy for Bioimplant Application
Abstract:
Currently, the demand for bioimplant applications increases continuously because of
their abilities to support the repair and replacement of diseased or damaged tissues.
Magnesium is very attractive for bioimplant because it is biocompatible and essential to
human metabolism. When present in the human body, it forms soluble and non-toxic
oxide in body fluid that is harmlessly excreted with the urine. Furthermore, it can
accelerate the growth of new bone tissues. However, pure magnesium is corroded too
quickly at the physiological system. As a result, the corrosion resistance of magnesium
should be improved. Possible methods to improve corrosion resistance are alloying and
using protective coating. The objective of this thesis is to study the coating behavior of
applying non-aqueous electrolyte and pulse potential for coating calcium phosphate on
magnesium alloy. Calcium phosphate was coated on the surface of AZ91 magnesium
alloy using electrochemical deposition with various ratios of ethyl alcohol adding to the
electrolyte (0%, 10%, 30%, 50% and 70%) and constant potential. Potentiodynamic
polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (ElS) were used to evaluate
the corrosion under in-vitro conditions. When adding more ethyl alcohol, the thickness
of coating decreased but the coating particles can cover more entirely and uniformly.
For the pH values of electrolytes, adding more ethyl alcohol to the electrolyte decreased
the electrolyte pH value because of the increment of hydrolysis reaction of ethyl alcohol
in water. The results from corrosion evaluation showed that the proper ratio of ethyl
alcohol adding to the electrolyte could increase the corrosion resistance. The coated
sample using electrolyte with 30% of ethyl alcohol has the highest corrosion resistance.
After that, the electrolytes with 30% of ethyl alcohol and without ethyl alcohol were
used to coat the samples using pulse potential with constant pulse time and the same
coating duration as constant potential. The thicknesses of coated samples with pulse
potential were less than those of constant potential. Moreover, the appearance of coated
sample surface using pulse potential were more uniform and flat when compared with
using constant potential. The corrosion resistance of coated samples with pulse potential
was significantly improved. Consequently, using non-aqueous electrolyte and pulse
potential is a promising method to enhance corrosion resistance for calcium phosphate
coating on AZ91 magnesium alloy.