Zirconium-based nanostructured coating on the Mg-4Y-3RE alloy for corrosion retardation

Abstract Clinical application of magnesium (Mg) alloys to biomedical implants is hampered by the fast degradation rate in the physiological environment. Herein, a zirconium-based (ZB) nanostructured coating composed of mainly zirconium nitride and oxynitride is prepared by reactive magnetron sputtering to mitigate corrosion of the Mg-4Y-3RE alloy. The ZB coating reduces the corrosion current density, increases the charge transfer resistance, and hinders the corrosion propagation of the Mg alloy in the simulated body fluid revealing retarded dissolution of the Mg alloy. The enhanced corrosion resistance of the Mg alloy stems from the dense and strongly adhering ZB coating.