Production of Highly Porous Fe-Si-Mg-C Alloy by Space Holder Method

In the present study, highly porous nonmagnetic bioresorbable Fe-5Si-8Mg-0.6C alloy was developed and produced for temporary biomedical implant applications. Iron alloy specimens with open porous structure were fabricated by powder metallurgy-based space holder method. Carbamide was used as a space holder. In general, Mg, Fe and Zn are biodegradable metals. Mg alloys biodegrade too fast with H2 evolution. Zn alloys show biodegradation rates in the middle of Mg and Fe alloys, but the Zn alloys are very brittle. Biodegradation rate of Fe alloys is too slow. Electrochemical corrosion behaviour of the foams was tested in simulated body fluid. Biodegradation rate was investigated by using weight loss and metal ion release measurements. Fe2+ ion release amounts of the specimens were lower than the upper limit for the humans.