The dependence of the biodegradable ZX10 alloy corrosion process on the structural factors and local pH level

Magnesium biodegradable alloys are a promising material for self-dissolving surgical implants. Magnesium is known to be sensitive to electrochemical corrosion due to the galvanic effect between the matrix and particles of secondary phases and inclusions. Another important factor is the pH level. The behavior of certain chemical reactions depends on the pH level, so one can assume that the pH level of a corrosive medium at the material surface is a factor determining what chemical reactions can occur there. Finally, there is evidence that variability of the crystallographic orientation of the grains may be a cause of anisotropy of corrosion properties. The purpose of this work is to reveal the influence of the electrode potential of the microstructural elements, the crystallographic orientation of the grains, and the pH level of the near-surface volume of the corrosion solution on the corrosion process. In the study, sections of 2×1.5 mm were marked on the ZX10 alloy samples, for which maps of the distribution of crystallographic orientations and chemical composition were drawn. To assess the influence of the electrode potential of the particles, the authors carried out a Kelvin probe mapping in the 90×90 µm area. Next, corrosion tests were carried out with video filming of the surface on the marked area. To determine the pH level influence, the solution circulation in the cell was varied. Upon completion of the tests, corrosion products and corrosion damage were examined in detail. According to the results, the pH level in the liquid near-surface micro-volumes has a greater influence than the electrode potential of the particles as it provokes the formation of corrosion products of a different composition, which leads to passivation of the surface areas around the particles. The authors identified two different types of filiform corrosion. For filiform corrosion, a correlation between the corrosion direction and the crystallographic orientation of the grains was established.