Corrosion fatigue of a magnesium alloy in modified simulated body fluid

For magnesium (Mg) alloys to be used as temporary biodegradable implants it is essential to establish their resistance to body fluid-assisted cracking. In this paper the fatigue behaviour of a common magnesium alloy, AZ91D, is studied in air and in modified simulated body fluid (m-SBF), and the effect of different electrochemical conditions on corrosion fatigue life is investigated. The alloy was found to be susceptible to corrosion fatigue. Results suggest inclusions and corrosion pits to be the crack initiation sites, and hydrogen embrittlement to play a dominant role in cracking of AZ91D Mg alloy in m-SBF.