This work presents a study on the influence of biologically
relevant
ions on the corrosion of zinc (Zn) in physiological fluids. Electrochemical
techniques were used to investigate the degradation of pure Zn exposed
to different physiological electrolytes containing chlorides, carbonates,
sulfates, and phosphates. The corrosion behavior of Zn in the solutions
over a 7-day period was also assessed. SEM, EDS, and FTIR were used
to analyze corrosion products. With respect to corrosion, the most
aggressive ions are chlorides, which induce localized corrosion, while
carbonates and phosphates reduce the corrosive attack of the chloride
on Zn while inducing uniform corrosion. Sulfates reduce the corrosion
rate by disrupting Zn’s passive layer. The overall corrosion
rate of Zn changed in each electrolyte depending on the nature of
the solution and the corrosion product formed. These findings will
be useful in predicting the in-service behavior of future biodegradable
Zn medical implants.