Bio-Corrosion Behavior of Ceramic Coatings Containing Hydroxyapatite on Mg-Zn-Ca Magnesium Alloy

Ceramic coatings containing hydroxyapatite (HA) were fabricated on a biodegradable Mg66Zn29Ca5 magnesium alloy through micro-arc oxidation by adding HA particles into the electrolytes. The phase composition and surface morphology of the coatings were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analyses, respectively. Electrochemical experiments and immersion tests were performed in Hank’s solution at 37 °C to measure the corrosion resistance of the coatings. Blood compatibility was evaluated by in vitro blood platelet adhesion tests and static water contact angle measurement. The results show that the typical ceramic coatings with a porous structure were prepared on the magnesium alloy surface with the main phases of MgO and MgSiO3 and a small amount of Mg3(PO4)2 and HA. The optimal surface morphology appeared at HA concentration of 0.4 g/L. The electrochemical experiments and immersion tests reveal a significant improvement in the corrosion resistance of the ceramic coatings containing HA compared with the coatings without HA or bare Mg66Zn29Ca5 magnesium alloy. The static water contact angle of the HA-containing ceramic coatings is 18.7°, which is lower than that of the coatings without HA (40.1°). The in vitro blood platelet adhesion tests indicate that the HA-containing ceramic coatings possess improved blood compatibility compared with the coatings without HA. Utilizing HA-containing ceramic coatings may be an effective way to improve the surface biocompatibility and corrosion resistance of magnesium alloys.