Corrosion behavior and in vitro biocompatibility of Zr–Al–Co–Ag bulk metallic glasses: An experimental case study

• Published in: Journal of non-crystalline solids Vol. 358; no. 12-13; pp. 1599 - 1604
• Main Authors: Hua, Nengbin, Huang, Lu, Wang, Jianfeng, Cao, Yu, He, Wei, Pang, Shujie, Zhang, Tao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 01.07.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biocompatibility; Corrosion; Corrosion mechanisms; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Glasses (including metallic glasses); Materials science; Metallic glasses; Metals. Metallurgy; Physics; Specific materials; Zirconium alloys; Metallic glasses; Biocompatibility; Corrosion; Zirconium alloys; Phosphates; Surface chemistry; Cytotoxicity; Silver addition; Experimental study; Case study; Corrosion resistance; Casting; Morphology; Osteoblast; Copper; Microstructure; Current density; Medical application; Passivation; X-ray photoelectron spectra
• ISSN: 0022-3093; 1873-4812
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2012.04.022

Ni- and Cu–free Zr–Al–Co–Ag bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) were synthesized by copper mold casting. The effects of Ag addition for partially replacing Co of Zr53Al16Co31 BMG on the corrosion behavior, surface chemistry and in vitro biocompatibility of BMGs were investigated. The Zr–Al–Co–Ag BMGs are spontaneously passivated with low passive current densities in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution. Partial substitution of Co by Ag is effective in improving the corrosion resistance of the Zr–Al–Co BMG. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements reveal that the Ag addition increases the concentration of Zr and decreases the concentration of Al in the surface passive film of BMGs, which is responsible for the enhanced corrosion resistance of Zr–Al–Co–Ag BMGs. Mouse MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast cell proliferation results and morphology observations show that the Zr–Al–Co–Ag BMGs exhibit comparable cell viability and proliferation activity with those of Ti–6Al–4V alloy, demonstrating their good biocompatibility. The high corrosion resistance in PBS and low in vitro cytotoxicity of Zr–Al–Co–Ag BMGs suggest an initial biocompatibility for biomedical applications. ► Increasing in Ag content in the Zr-Al-Co-Ag BMGs enhances their corrosion resistance. ► Addition of Ag in the Zr–Al–Co BMG changes its composition of surface film. ► The Zr–Al–Co–Ag BMGs exhibit good biocompatibility.