PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS, PART H: JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE, cilt.236, sa.12, ss.1720-1731, 2022 (SCI-Expanded)
Recently, AZ31B magnesium alloy has been widely employed in
automotive, aerospace, and bio implant industries due to its light-weight
and biocompatibility properties. However, the equilibrium of ductility and
strength of this material and the negativity brought by its poor wear
behavior have limited its versatile use. Friction stir processing (FSP) has
been commonly used as severe plastic deformation method for
improving mechanical and tribological properties of metal sheets. The
effect of this method on the biocompatibility of materials is a matter of
curiosity that should be emphasized. So, the present study aims to
investigate the effect of friction stir process on the mechanical,
tribological, and biocompatibility properties of AZ31B magnesium alloy.
It is observed that FSP enhanced the tensile properties of the alloy but
decreased its elongation. It was determined that the base material
exhibited ductile character on the fracture surface of the specimens, and
mixed ductile/brittle fracture was evident with the FSP. In the FSP zone,
the hardness value was improved by 17% compared to the base
material. Also, the wear performance of the alloy enhanced in ambient
air and Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) solution. Wear properties in SBF
solution were better due to less adhesive bonds between the friction
surfaces. This assessment was supported by SEM images of the wear
path and surface of counter bodies. On the other hand, FSPed AZ31B
alloy materials with improved strength properties were not cytotoxic for
human gingival fibroblasts, and these results may suggest that the
materials are safe for clinical uses.