Preparation and Properties of Biodegradable Zn-Nb Composite Materials

Abstract

Zn-xNb (x=0, 0.5, 1, 3, 5, 10%) composites were prepared by vacuum heating-press sintering process with Zn and Nb powders as raw materials. The surface morphology and phases of the composites were characterized. The effects of Nb addition on the mechanical properties, corrosion degradation behavior, and cytocompatibility of the composites were investigated. The results show that the Nb particles are distributed in the Zn matrix in a lamellar shape. With the increase of Nb content, the compressive yield strength of the composite increases first and then decreases, and Zn-0.5Nb shows the best performance. The increase of Nb content accelerates the degradation of the composites. Compared with pure Zn, the samples with high Nb content show better cytocompatibility, probably owing to the addition of Nb reducing the release of Zn2+.

Keywords

• heating-pressing sintering
• biodegradable materials
• zinc-niobium composite material
• corrosion degradation behavior
• cytocompatibility