Exploring the Influence of Biologically Relevant Ions on the Corrosion Behavior of Biodegradable Zinc in Physiological Fluids

This work presents a study on the influence of biologically relevant ions on the corrosion of zinc (Zn) in physiological fluids. Electrochemical techniques were used to investigate the degradation of pure Zn exposed to different physiological electrolytes containing chlorides, carbonates, sulfates, and phosphates. The corrosion behavior of Zn in the solutions over a 7-day period was also assessed. SEM, EDS, and FTIR were used to analyze corrosion products. With respect to corrosion, the most aggressive ions are chlorides, which induce localized corrosion, while carbonates and phosphates reduce the corrosive attack of the chloride on Zn while inducing uniform corrosion. Sulfates reduce the corrosion rate by disrupting Zn’s passive layer. The overall corrosion rate of Zn changed in each electrolyte depending on the nature of the solution and the corrosion product formed. These findings will be useful in predicting the in-service behavior of future biodegradable Zn medical implants.