Structural and mechanical properties of ZnO: MgO shape memory alloy for medical application

The effect of ratio changes of ZnO: MgO alloy prepared using the solid-state reaction method of 50:50, 60:40,70:30, 80:20, and 90:10 wt% on the structural and mechanical properties has been studied for medical applications. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) have been employed to characterize morphological and structural properties, respectively. The results revealed that the homogeneity of the mixture and the integrity of the sample were verified, especially at the 70:30 ratio. In addition, it is confirmed that the presence of a homogeneous distribution of zinc oxide and magnesium oxide in the samples, with accuracy of its proportions. In all cases, there are no impurities observed at MgO (10): ZnO (90) ratio, which may be from the low concentration of Mg element compared with Zn element. In addition, the formation of new compounds such as MgZn2, Mg4Zn7, Mg0.97Zn0.03, and Mg2Zn11 has been observed. The XRD results showed that the ZnO: MgO spectra for all ratios with poly poly-crystalline structures, with the optimal ratio of 70:30 for forming a distinctive crystalline structure and causing a phase change. Those that have broad FWHM, low crystalline size, low strain, and dislocation density make it useful in this application compared to other ratios. Finally, the mechanical properties of the alloy were evaluated, which included measuring hardness, impact, and Young's modulus. The results showed a significant improvement in mechanical performance, enhancing the alloy's suitability for medical applications. This alloy is biocompatible, easy to prepare, and is an economical and environmentally friendly option.