Corrosion resistance of resorbable Ca-Mg-Zn-Yb metallic glasses in Ringer's solution

Abstract The corrosion behavior of Ca 65−x Mg 10+x Zn 25 (x = 0,10) and Ca 32 Mg 12 Zn 38 Yb 18 alloys was studied by potendiodynamic tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in Ringer's solution. The solution of NaCl, KCl and CaCl 2 components reacted with outer layer of alloys and produced corrosion products. The influence of Ca content on the hydrogen volume as a function of time was discussed. The measurements exhibited significantly less hydrogen evolution volumes for Ca 55 Mg 20 Zn 25 alloy (5.0 ml/cm 2 ) than for Ca 65 Mg 10 Zn 25 glass (11.3 ml/cm 2 ) after 2 h. The lowest value of hydrogen evolution was observed for Ca 32 Mg 12 Zn 38 Yb 18 glass (1.1 ml/cm 2 ). The hydrogen volume for Ca 32 Zn 38 Mg 12 Yb 18 sample fulfilled the non-toxic amount of H 2 , which must be low than ~1 ml/h. The XPS survey spectra for the glassy samples after corrosion test in Ringer's solution represent the surface components. The corrosion products were identified as to be CaCO 3 , Mg(OH) 2 , CaO, MgO and ZnO compounds. In addition, the EDS and X-ray analysis of a layer of corrosion products after immersion tests in Ringer's solution identified calcium and ytterbium hydroxide, calcium carbonate and also calcium zinc hydroxide hydrate.