Tantalum and Hydroxyapatite Particles Reinforced Magnesium for Biomedical and Load Bearing Application

Abstract

Pure Magnesium (Mg) Implants Have Unsatisfactory Mechanical Properties, Particularly In Loadbearing Applications. Magnesium Matrix Composites Reinforced With 3, 6, And 9 Wt.% Of Ta And 8wt. % Of Ha Particles, Which Were Sphere-Like In Shape With Average Size Of About 60 ??? M, Were Fabricated By Powder Metallurgy. The Density, Porosity And Mechanical Properties Of The Composites Were Investigated. There Were Uniform Distribution Of Reinforcements In The Mg Matrix With Reasonable Integrity And No Intermetallic Formation. The Compressive Mechanical Properties Of Composites Vary With Reinforcement Contents. The Obtained Results Showed That Fine Ta And Ha Particles Uniformly Distribute In The Mg Matrices Without Voids For The Composites Containing 3 And 6 Wt.% Ta. For The Composites Containing 8 Wt. % Of Ha And 9 Wt.% Ta, However, Ta Particles Agglomerate In The Mg Matrices, And Some Obvious Voids Appear. The Ultimate Compression Strengths, Failure Strain And Elastic Moduli Of The Composites Tend To Increase When The Ta Contents Increase From 0 To 6wt.%, However, Appear To Decrease With The Further Increase Of Ta From 6 To 9 Wt.%. But The Yield Strength Was Increased When The Ta Reinforcement Increased From 6 To 9 Wt.%. The Optimal Parameters To Fabricate Biocompatible Mg Composites And The Optimal Composition With Appropriate Strength, Hardness And Ductility Were Recommended.