Processing of porous Mg-Zn-Ca alloy via powder metallurgy

Mg-Zn-Ca alloy is one of magnesium alloys that has been investigated for its potential in metal foam implantapplication. In this study, porous Mg-Zn-Ca alloy was prepared by powder metallurgy method, comprising of green compactfabrication and its sintering process. Calcium hydride (CaH2) was added as a foaming agent. The composition of Mg-Zn-Caalloy was varied (1-30 persenwt CaH2, and 1 variation with 9 persenwt Ca addition; while Zn constant) to study the effect of foamingagent and calcium addition on phase formation and structural properties of Porous Mg alloy. Sintering process was done in atube furnace under argon atmosphere in 520°C for 2 hours. The as-sintered alloys were characterized by scanning electronmicroscopy (SEM) and also X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Microstructure characterization showed different CaH2content in the alloy would give different type of pores. There was a tendency of increasing pore size and rough grain alongwith higher content of CaH2. Further, XRD analysis indicated that sintering process formed α Mg, MgO, CaO, and alsointermetallic phases of Mg2Ca and also Ca2Mg6Zn3 phase. AIP Conference Proceedings 1778, 030010 (2016); doi: 10.1063/1.4965744