Effect of Plastic Deformation on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of the Zn-4Ag-1Cu Zinc Alloy

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Khafizova E., Fakhretdinova E., Islamgaliev R., Polenok M., Sitdikov V., Yılmazer H.

Materials, vol.16, no.13, 2023 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 16 Issue: 13
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.3390/ma16134646
  • Journal Name: Materials
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Aerospace Database, CAB Abstracts, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, INSPEC, Metadex, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Keywords: biodegradable metals, computer simulation, equal-channel angular pressing, mechanical properties, microstructures, Zn-based alloys
  • Yıldız Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

It is known that zinc biodegradable alloys are a promising material for producing biomedical implants for orthopedics and vascular stents. Among them, the Zn-Ag-Cu zinc alloy is of special interest due to the antibacterial and antimicrobial properties of Ag and Cu. To improve the mechanical properties of the Zn-4Ag-1Cu zinc alloy, the effect of equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) on the microstructure and strength has been investigated. The ECAP conditions for the Zn-4Ag-1Cu alloy were chosen by modeling in the Deform 3 D program (temperature and strain rate). The microstructure was analyzed using transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The study of strength was carried out by measuring the microhardness and tensile tests of small samples with a gauge dimension of 0.8 × 1 × 4 mm3. The microstructure after ECAP was characterized by equiaxed grains ranging in a size from 1.5 µm to 4 µm with particles in a size from 200 nm to 1 µm uniformly distributed along the boundaries. The ECAP samples showed a high strength of 348 MPa and good ductility of up to 30%, demonstrating their great potential as promising materials for producing medical stents.