Tailoring microstructure, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility of Zr alloys via the addition of Ag

This study focuses on the preparation of zirconium (Zr) -silver (Ag) alloys through the alloying of pure Zr with a specific content of Ag using an electric arc furnace. Subsequently, the mechanical and biological properties of these alloys were examined. The analysis conducted, including XRD, OM, SEM, and TEM, confirms the well-established understanding that the Zr–Ag alloy matrix exhibits an α-phase. Furthermore, the addition of Ag elements leads to a gradual refinement of the laths, accompanied by the presence of AgZr2 compounds within the α-Zr matrix. Compression tests demonstrate that the inclusion of Ag components significantly enhances the mechanical properties of the alloys. Notably, the compressive strength of Zr–8Ag reaches an impressive 1932 MPa, while exhibiting an elongation of 22.2 %. Furthermore, analysis conducted using an electrochemical workstation reveals that the self-corrosion potentials of Zr-xAg (where x = 2, 4, 6, 8 at.%) tend to exhibit more positive values compared to pure Zr. Additionally, the corrosion current densities of Zr–6Ag and Zr–8Ag are lower, indicating an improved corrosion resistance. Upon conducting an examination of the antimicrobial test and hemolysis test, it was ascertained that the inclusion of Ag elements significantly augments the antimicrobial characteristics of the alloy. Furthermore, the Zr–Ag alloys exhibit hemolysis rates below 5 %, rendering them appropriate for implementation in biological research endeavors. •Zr alloys were prepared by introducing various Ag contents based on pure Zr.•The addition of Ag enhances the strength hardness and toughness of the alloy.•The formation of Ag2O and ZrO2 improves the corrosion resistance of the alloy.•Zr–Ag alloys have antimicrobial properties and good biocompatibility.