In vitrodegradation and mechanical behaviour of calcium phosphate coated Mg-Ca alloy

The mechanical and physical properties of Mg-Ca alloys make them suitable for temporary orthopaedic implant applications. However, the rapid degradation of these alloys limits their use in the physiological environment. The effect of calcium phosphate (CaP) coating on biomineralization, biodegradation, and mechanical behaviour of the alloy in physiological environment is investigated in this work. Supersaturated calcification solution was used for developing CaP layer on the HNO3 pretreated substrate. The surface morphology and composition of phases present in the samples after immersion in supersaturated simulated body fluid were analysed using a scanning electron microscope fitted with energy dispersive spectroscopy. The results show that the CaP coating improved biomineralization and reduced the degradation rate. The CaP coating also helped in controlling the reduction in mechanical properties in the physiological environment. Hence, the CaP coating can be used as a surface modification technique to tailor the degradation rate of Mg-Ca alloys.

Automated summary

The study investigated the use of calcium phosphate (CaP) coating on magnesium-calcium alloys in physiological environments to improve biomineralization and reduce degradation rates. The CaP coating was found to help control the reduction in mechanical properties of the alloys in physiological environments.