Effects of Incorporating β-Tricalcium Phosphate with Reaction Sintering into Mg-Based Composites on Degradation and Mechanical Integrity

Abstract

For applications of biodegradable load-bearing implants, we incorporated 10 or 20 vol% β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) into Mg-based composites through reaction sintering in the spark plasma sintering process. We previously reported that the evolved microstructure enhanced mechanical properties before degradation and modified in vitro degradation behaviors. In this study, immersion tests in physiological saline and subsequent compression tests in the air were conducted to investigate the effects of degradation on mechanical integrity. In the immersion tests, Mg/β-TCP composites showed no visible disintegration of sintered particles due to interfacial strength enhanced by reaction sintering. Local corrosion was observed in the Mg matrix adjacent to the reaction products. In addition, Mg/10% β-TCP showed dense degradation products of Mg(OH)2 compared with Mg and Mg/20% β-TCP. Those degradation behaviors resulted in reducing the effective load transfer from the Mg matrix to the reaction products as reinforcement. The yield strength decreased by 18.1% for Mg/10% β-TCP and 70.9% for Mg/20% β-TCP after six days of immersion. These results can give a broad view of designing spark plasma sintered Mg/bioceramic composites with the consideration of mechanical integrity.