Microstructure,mechanical, and corrosion properties of extruded low-alloyed Mg–xZn–0.2Ca alloys

The microstructure, mechanical, and corrosion properties of extruded low-alloyed Mg-xZn-0.2Ca (x=0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0) alloys were investigated in this study. Findings from scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy results indicate that the amount of ternary Ca₂Mg₆Zn₃ phase, as the only secondary phase in 1.0Zn, 2.0Zn, and 3.0Zn alloys, gradually increases with the addition of Zn, while the Mg₂Ca phase was observed in the Mg-0.2Ca alloy only. Zn has a strong effect on the orientation and intensity of textures, which also influence mechanical behaviors, as revealed by electron back-scatter diffraction. Among all the alloys, the Mg-2.0Zn-0.2Ca alloy obtains the maximum tensile strength (278 MPa) and yield strength (230 MPa). Moreover, Zn addition has an evident influence on the corrosion properties of Mg-xZn-0.2Ca alloy, and Mg-1.0Zn-0.2Ca alloy exhibits the minimum corrosion rate. This paper provides a novel low-alloyed magnesium alloy as a potential biodegradable material.