Michael Schinhammer

Design strategy for biodegradable Fe-based alloys for medical applications☆

The aim of this article is to describe a design strategy for the development of new biodegradable Fe-based alloys offering a performance considered appropriate for temporary implant applications, in terms of both an enhanced degradation rate compared to pure iron, and suitable strength and ductility. The design strategy is based on electrochemical, microstructural and toxicological considerations. The influence of alloying elements on the electrochemical modification of the Fe matrix and the controlled formation of noble intermetallic phases is deployed. Such intermetallic phases are responsible for both an increased degradation rate and enhanced strength. Manganese and palladium have been shown to be suitable alloying additions for this design strategy: Mn lowers the standard electrode potential, while Pd forms noble (Fe,Mn)Pd intermetallics that act as cathodic sites. We discuss the efficiency and the potential of the design approach, and evaluate the resulting characteristics of the new alloys using metal-physical experiments including electrochemical measurements, phase identification analysis and electron microscopy studies. The newly developed Fe-Mn-Pd alloys reveal a degradation resistance that is one order of magnitude lower than observed for pure iron. Additionally, the mechanical performance is shown to be adjustable not only by the choice of alloying elements but also by heat treatment procedures; high strength values >1400MPa at ductility levels >10% can be achieved. Thus, the new alloys offer an attractive combination of electrochemical and mechanical characteristics considered suitable for biodegradable medical applications.

On the biodegradation performance of an Mg–Y–RE alloy with various surface conditions in simulated body fluid

This study documents the influence of different surface conditions produced by various heat treatments on the in vitro degradation performance of an Mg-Y-RE alloy (WE43) investigated by immersion in simulated body fluid. WE43 samples were, respectively (i) annealed at 525 degrees C (plus artificial aging at 250 degrees C in one case) and afterwards polished; and (ii) polished, annealed at 500 degrees C in air and subsequently investigated in the oxidized state. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicates a mass gain during oxidation in air, following a square-root law over time. X-ray diffraction spectra imply a growing Y(2)O(3) layer upon oxidation, and Auger electron spectroscopy depth profiles show an increased oxide layer thickness which develops according to the behavior observed by TGA. Macroscopically, the degradation performance of the differently heat-treated samples can be divided into two groups. Annealed and polished samples show a fast and homogeneous degradation which slows with time. Their degradation behavior is approximated by a parabolic law. Oxidized samples exhibit a slow initial degradation rate which increases when the protection of the oxide layer is reduced. Overall, they reveal a sigmoidal degradation behavior. Here the differing degradation performances of the annealed-polished and the oxidized samples are related to the different surface conditions and explained on the basis of a depletion hypothesis.

Degradation performance of biodegradable Fe-Mn-C(-Pd) alloys

Biodegradable metals offer great potential in circumventing the long-term risks and side effects of medical implants. Austenitic Fe-Mn-C-Pd alloys feature a well-balanced combination of high strength and considerable ductility which make them attractive for use as degradable implant material. The focus of this study is the evaluation of the degradation performance of these alloys by means of immersion testing and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in simulated body fluid. The Fe-Mn-C-Pd alloys are characterized by an increased degradation rate compared to pure Fe, as revealed by both techniques. Electrochemical measurements turned out to be a sensitive tool for investigating the degradation behavior. They not only show that the polarization resistance is a measure of corrosion tendency, but also provide information on the evolution of the degradation product layers. The mass loss data from immersion tests indicate a decreasing degradation rate for longer times due to the formation of degradation products on the sample surfaces. The results are discussed in detail in terms of the degradation mechanism of Fe-based alloys in physiological media.

Towards biodegradable wireless implants

A new generation of partially or even fully biodegradable implants is emerging. The idea of using temporary devices is to avoid a second surgery to remove the implant after its period of use, thereby improving considerably the patients comfort and safety. This paper provides a state-of-the-art overview and an experimental section that describes the key technological challenges for making biodegradable devices. The general considerations for the design and synthesis of biodegradable components are illustrated with radiofrequency-driven resistor–inductor–capacitor (RLC) resonators made of biodegradable metals (Mg, Mg alloy, Fe, Fe alloys) and biodegradable conductive polymer composites (polycaprolactone–polypyrrole, polylactide–polypyrrole). Two concepts for partially/fully biodegradable wireless implants are discussed, the ultimate goal being to obtain a fully biodegradable sensor for in vivo sensing.

Design considerations for achieving simultaneously high-strength and highly ductile magnesium alloys

A comprehensive scheme of phase configuration optimization in the Mg–Zn–Ca(–Zr) system by thermodynamic simulations and microstructural analyses is presented. A composition window of 0.2–0.4 wt% Ca and 5–6 wt% Zn is defined as optimal for establishing a complex heterogeneous microstructure allowing for enhanced ductility and simultaneously high strength of the material. Literature data analysis and our own results confirm the enhanced performance of alloys from this composition window.

Assessing the grain structure of highly X-ray absorbing metallic alloys

Abstract Selective laser melting allows the fabrication of NiTi implants with pre-defined, complex shapes. The control of the process parameters regulates the arrangement of the granular microstructure of the NiTi alloy. We prepared specimens with elongated grains, which build a sound basis for diffraction contrast tomography experiments using synchrotron radiation and for electron backscatter diffraction measurements. Both approaches reveal the orientation and size of the individual grains within the specimen. Still, electron backscatter diffraction is confined to two-dimensional cross-sections while diffraction contrast tomography reveals these microstructural features in three dimensions. We demonstrate that the grains in the selective laser melted specimen, which are oriented along the building direction, do not exhibit a well-defined planar grain orientation but are twisted. These twisted grains give rise to diffraction spots observable for several degrees of specimen rotation simultaneously to the acquisition of tomography data.