Severe plastic deformation by high pressure torsion (HPT) is used to process and refine the grain structure of commercial purity magnesium and AZ31, AZ91, and ZK60 magnesium alloys. Transmission electron microscopy shows that the microstructure of pure magnesium is characterized by a bi-modal grain size distribution with grains in the range of a few microns and ultrafine grains after HPT, whereas the magnesium alloys display a homogeneous ultrafine grain structure after processing. X ray diffraction analysis reveals that the AZ91 alloy displays the largest lattice microstrain and this alloy also exhibits the highest hardness after processing. The processed AZ31 and the ZK60 alloys show similar microstructures and maximum values of hardness. Contrary to earlier reports of significant improvements in the corrosion resistance of magnesium alloys in biological environments, the present results show that processing by HPT has no significant effect on the corrosion behavior of magnesium alloys in a 3.5% NaCl solution. By contrast, pure magnesium exhibits an increased corrosion resistance after HPT.

It is well‐known that processing by severe plastic deformation using high‐pressure torsion (HPT) promotes grain refinement and increases the strength of magnesium and its alloys. The present research is conducted to evaluate the effect of such processing on cytotoxicity and corrosion behavior in Hank's solution by using samples of commercial purity magnesium and AZ31, AZ91, and ZK60 magnesium alloys. All samples are subjected to electrochemical testing and hydrogen evolution testing before and after processing by HPT and the results show that this processing improves the corrosion resistance of pure magnesium, has no significant effect on the AZ31 and AZ91 alloys but reduces the corrosion resistance of the ZK60 alloy. The observations support the conclusion that grain refinement improves the corrosion resistance of metals with a tendency for passivation but impedes the resistance of metals without passivation. In addition, in vitro cytotoxicity tests are performed on the processed materials and show cell viability in all samples. The results demonstrate that HPT processing may be used to improve the performance of magnesium and its alloys as biodegradable implants.

Hydroxyapatite and bioactive glass particles were added to pure magnesium and an AZ91 magnesium alloy and then consolidated into disc-shaped samples at room temperature using high-pressure torsion (HPT). The bioactive particles appeared well-dispersed in the metal matrix after multiple turns of HPT. Full consolidation was attained using pure magnesium, but the center of the AZ91 disc failed to fully consolidate even after 50 turns. The magnesium-hydroxyapatite composite displayed an ultimate tensile strength above 150 MPa, high cell viability, and a decreasing rate of corrosion during immersion in Hank’s solution. The composites produced with bioactive glass particles exhibited the formation of calcium phosphate after 2 h of immersion in Hank’s solution and there was rapid corrosion in these materials.

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It is known that magnesium (Mg)-hydroxyapatite (HA) composites can be produced by the room temperature consolidation of particles. Herein, the corrosion behavior of an Mg-HA composite is analyzed, and a direct comparison with pure Mg is made. Samples of Mg-HA and of pure Mg are immersed in Hank's solution for up to 60 h, and the microstructure and corrosion products are characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Electrochemical tests are used to evaluate the corrosion behavior and a hydrogen evolution test is undertaken to determine the corrosion rate. The results show the corrosion rate of the Mg-HA composite is higher than for pure Mg but decreases significantly after %10 h of immersion in Hank's solution. The increase in corrosion resistance of the composite is attributed to the formation of a protective layer of corrosion products with an external surface layer rich in Ca, P, and O.