MICROSTRUCTURES AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF AS-CAST Mg-Zr-Ca ALLOYS FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS

The microstructures and mechanical properties of as-cast Mg-Zr-Ca alloys were investigated in this study for potential use in biomedical applications. The Mg-Zr-Ca alloys were fabricated by commercial pure Mg (99.9 mass%), Ca (99.9 mass%), and master Mg-33mass%Zr alloy. The microstructures of the alloys were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and optical microscopy (OM), and the mechanical properties were determined from tensile tests. The experimental results indicate that an increase of Zr obviously increases the strength of Mg-Zr-Ca alloys with 1 mass% Ca and the formation of Mg₂Ca decreases the strength of the alloys. Mg-1Zr-1Ca alloy (mass%) has the highest strength and best ductility among all the studied alloys.