Corrosion fatigue of a magnesium alloy under appropriate human physiological conditions for bio-implant applications

This paper presents investigation of fatigue strength of a common magnesium (Mg) alloy, AZ91D, in air and Hanks' solution under appropriate mechano-chemical conditions (namely, properly simulated loading and frequency, and in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) at 37 degrees C). Fatigue cracks initiated from inclusions when tested in air and from corrosion pits when tested in Hanks' solutions. However, at constant stress levels lower than fatigue limit in air, the alloy tested in Hanks' solution + BSA indicated longer fatigue strength than the alloy tested in the plain Hanks' solution which was attributed to the influence of adsorbed BSA on corrosion and corrosion fatigue (CF) crack propagation of the alloy. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.