SURFACE MODIFICATION OF MAGNESIUM FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PLASMA TREATMENT, LASER TEXTURING AND SANDBLASTING

Magnesium and its alloys have emerged as promising materials for biomedical applications due to their light weight, mechanical compatibility with bone, biodegradability, and excellent biocompatibility. However, their rapid degradation in physiological environments remains a critical challenge. To address this, a range of surface-modification techniques have been explored to tailor the surface properties while preserving the bulk characteristics of magnesium. This paper provides an overview of surface-engineering methods aimed at enhancing the corrosion resistance, mechanical performance and bioactivity of magnesium. Three key surface-modification approaches are presented: plasma treatment, laser texturing and sandblasting. Plasma treatment resulted in the formation of a stable, protective oxide layer with significantly improved corrosion resistance and hydrophilicity. Laser texturing generated hierarchical microstructures yielding superhydrophobic surfaces with an enhanced hardness, though slightly reduced corrosion resistance. Sandblasting led to an increased surface roughness and mechanical stiffness, but also introduced microstructural defects that are detrimental to the corrosion stability. Overall, the study demonstrates how tailored surface modifications can effectively balance the mechanical integrity and degradation behavior of magnesium, paving the way for its optimized use in biomedical applications.