Investigation of a new generation degradable implant material

Abstract

[Abstract]: This study investigates a new generation of metallic bio-degradable implant material. Due to the many drawback of permanent metallic implant materials and polymer based bio-degradable material, a metallic biodegradable implant material was needed. A potential material that has the ability to fulfil the required needs is a magnesium alloy AZ31. Static and dynamic corrosion testing was performed on the magnesium alloy AZ31 under pseudo-physiological condition. If was found that under dynamic conditions, the alloy degraded fast at the beginning before stabilising to a rate of 0.5mm/yr. However, under static conditions, the alloy degraded slowly at the beginning before stabilising to a rate of 0.1mm/yr. Although the results are not entirely conclusive, the results are similar to testing which has been previously conducted. Future work is needed to continue the research into this very potential material as a bio-degradable implant.