A review of stress-corrosion cracking and corrosion fatigue of magnesium alloys for biodegradable implant applications

Magnesium (Mg) alloys have recently attracted great attention as potential biodegradable materials for temporary implant applications. It is essential for any implant material to have adequate resistance to cracking or fracture in actual body environments. The most important mechanisms by which implants may fail are stress corrosion cracking (SCC) and corrosion fatigue (CF). This article presents an overview of the current knowledge of SCC and CF of Mg alloys in chloride-containing corrosive environments including simulated body fluid (SBF) and the associated fracture mechanisms, as well as critical relevance to biodegradable implant applications.