Sreenivas' latest paper published in Journal of Alloys and Compounds
📢 New Publication Alert
Sreenivas’ latest paper has been published in the Journal of Alloys and Compounds, titled:
“Simultaneous Optimization of Strength and Bio-Corrosion Resistance in Biodegradable ZX10 Magnesium Alloy via Thermomechanical Processing and Annealing”
🧭 The Big Idea
Magnesium alloys are increasingly promising for medical implants, especially with the recent FDA approval of Mg-based orthopedic screws. But a longstanding challenge persists: processing often boosts strength at the cost of corrosion resistance.
This study shows a practical path forward—processing alone, without exotic alloying additions or surface coatings, can successfully overcome this trade-off.
🔧 What We Did
We systematically explored the effect of thermomechanical processing—including:
- Extrusion (EXT)
- Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP)
- ECAP + Annealing (ECAP-A)
This approach refines the microstructure, especially via severe plastic deformation and low-temperature heat treatment, enabling control over corrosion and strength without altering the base alloy chemistry.
🌟 Key Results
- ✅ Yield strength >200 MPa
- ✅ Hardness improved by ~80%
- ✅ Corrosion rate dropped from ~7.5 to ~1.5 mm/year
- ✅ More uniform and predictable degradation profiles
🔬 Why It Matters
The ECAP-A process simultaneously enhances both strength and corrosion resistance in ZX10 (Mg-Zn-Ca-Mn)—a fully biocompatible alloy with only elements already found in the human body. The process is simple, scalable, and relevant to real-world manufacturing for biodegradable screws, pins, and plates.
This study provides a clear processing route to engineer safe, high-performance Mg alloys for implantable devices—without relying on controversial or toxic elements.
🔍 Microstructural Insights
The annealing step eliminated Mg₂Ca precipitates, reduced dislocation density, and stabilized Ca₂Mg₆Zn₃ particles, yielding:
- Better corrosion uniformity
- Improved mechanical integrity
- Stable microstructure post-implantation
🤝 Collaboration & Impact
This work was conducted in collaboration with Fort Wayne Metals, a leading manufacturer of biomedical wire systems. It lays the groundwork for scalable production of next-gen biodegradable implants.
📄 Citation:
S. Raguraman, et al. J. Alloys Compd. 2025, 180078. DOI link