assessment of refinement effect of ca and zr alloy elements on the macrostructural evolution of mg-3% zn biomedical alloy in as extruded condition

in current study calcium and zirconium alloy elements were selected to develop an mg-3% zn alloy for biomedical application due to the good biocompability of these elements. the effect of different contents of these alloy elements on the macrostructural evolution and mevhanical properties of base mg-3% zn biomedical alloy was investigated. micrographs of alloys were observed by optical (om) and electronic microscopy (sem). vickers hardness test and tensile testing were performed for as-extruded samples. the mechanism by which the mechanical properties are affected by calcium and zirconium addition was discussed. the obtained results illustrate that by adding different concentration of ca new intermetallic phases formed. indeed, the presence of fine particles in the matrix of mg-zn-ca alloys (manily mg₆ca₂zn₃ and mg₂ca) results in improvement of hardness. and also the addition of ca obviously improved the mevhanical properties. it worth mentioning new intermetallic was detected through the microstructural studies at higher zr levels.