Chemical surface alteration of biodegradable magnesium exposed to corrosion media

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

  • Regine Willumeit
  • Janine Fischer
  • Frank Feyerabend
  • Norbert Hort
  • Ulrich Bismayer
  • Stefanie Heidrich
  • Boriana Mihailova

The understanding of corrosion processes of metal implants in the human body is a key problem in modern biomaterial science. Because of the complicated and adjustable in vivo environment, in vitro experiments require the analysis of various physiological corrosion media to elucidate the underlying mechanism of "biological" metal surface modification. In this paper magnesium samples were incubated under cell culture conditions (i.e. including CO 2) in electrolyte solutions and cell growth media, with and without proteins. Chemical mapping by high-resolution electron-induced X-ray emission spectroscopy and infrared reflection microspectroscopy revealed a complex structure of the formed corrosion layer. The presence of CO2 in concentrations close to that in blood is significant for the chemistry of the oxidised layer. The presence of proteins leads to a less dense but thicker passivation layer which is still ion and water permeable, as osmolality and weight measurements indicate.

Original languageEnglish
JournalActa Biomaterialia
Volume7
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)2704-2715
Number of pages12
ISSN1742-7061
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 06.2011
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • Chemical element mapping, Corrosion layer, IR reflection microspectroscopy, Magnesium, Physiological corrosion
  • Engineering