Tailoring biodegration rate of AZ31 magnesium alloy

•The surfaces of untreated and coated samples are hydrophilic.•The film surface with maximum corrosion resistance for all three of the SBF, DMEM and PBS solutions is Ag doped TiN.•SBF and DMEM showed similar performances in short-term experiments, which could be alternatives to each other.•TiN-based films significantly reduce the biodegradation rate of untreated AZ31, both electrochemically and using the immersion corrosion technique. The biocorrosion phenomenon is an important mechanism that determines the biodegradability capacity. The effectiveness of studies on biodegradable materials is directly proportional to detailed corrosion experiments and analysis of formation mechanisms. In this context, experiments and analyzes have also become frequently used for magnesium alloys. In this study, TiN-based coatings were applied by physical vapor deposition method to tailor AZ31 alloy suitable for use as temporary implant material. Different in vitro media were used for comprehensive simulation of the biological environment, and material losses were interpreted on the basis of corrosive damage.