Effect of copper content on the corrosion behaviors and antibacterial properties of binary Mg-Cu alloys

Biodegradable Mg-Cu alloys have attracted many researchers attention due to their characteristics of osteogenesis, angiogenesis, and long-lasting antibacterial effects. In this paper, the effect of copper content on the corrosion behaviors and antibacterial properties of binary Mg-Cu alloys was studied. Microstructure characterization, immersion test, electrochemical test and antibacterial test were carried out. The results show that with the increase of Cu content, the corrosion rate of Mg-Cu alloys was increased greatly due to the galvanic corrosion between Mg matrix and Mg2Cu intermetallic phase. The corrosion rate of Mg-0.3Cu alloy was almost 10 times as fast as Mg-0.1Cu alloy in 0.9 wt-% NaCl solution. Antibacterial test showed that Mg-Cu alloys could efficiently reduce the viability of Candida albicans with the addition of Cu above 0.1 wt%. Mg-0.1Cu has good potential to be used as antibacterial implants due to its good corrosion resistance and antibacterial property.