Processing, Characterization, and In Vitro Corrosion Behavior of Mg-TiB₂ Composite for Orthopedic Applications

In this study, powder metallurgy was used to synthesize magnesium metal matrix composites (MMCs) reinforced with 2.5 wt.% TiB₂ for orthopedic applications. The structure, microstructure, densification, and microhardness of the synthesized composite were studied. The in vitro corrosion behavior of the synthesized composite was examined in simulated body fluid (SBF) to investigate the potential application as orthopedic implants. The x-ray diffraction investigations revealed that the addition of TiB₂ particles altered the basal plane orientation of pure Mg. Microstructure analysis of Mg MMCs revealed a relatively homogeneous distribution of TiB₂ reinforcement in the Mg matrix. The microhardness of the Mg composite was enhanced by 8.1% compared with pure Mg. The in vitro corrosion investigations confirmed that the addition of TiB₂ reinforcement significantly enhanced the surface protective performance of Mg composite against corrosion in the SBF medium. The present study’s overall findings support the utility of the developed MMC in orthopedic applications.