Eventos Anais de eventos
COBEM 2023
27th International Congress of Mechanical Engineering
Characterization and experimental analysis of Stress Corrosion Cracking and its influence on the structural integrity and mechanical properties of the magnesium alloy WE 43.
Submission Author:
Geraldine Hincapie Diaz , SP , Colombia
Co-Authors:
Geraldine Hincapie Diaz, Marcelo Leite Ribeiro
Presenter: Geraldine Hincapie Diaz
doi://10.26678/ABCM.COBEM2023.COB2023-1448
Abstract
Magnesium alloys have been widely studied as biodegradable metals, due to their low density and fast disso- lution properties, and are considered a good alternative for use as medical support implants, since their compatibility and degradation in the human body makes a second surgery unnecessary. However, magnesium alloys must maintain their mechanical integrity in the body during the healing period, and besides the low corrosion resistance in general, it is very susceptible to stress corrosion, which can cause premature and sudden fractures of the implant. This is one of the problems that hinder the use of this product, and it is crucial to analyze the behavior against this phenomenon in order to understand the effects of this occurrence on the mechanical properties and structural integrity of magnesium alloys. Thus, this work aims to characterize and experimentally analyze the effects of stress corrosion on WE43 alloy. To this end, con- stant load tests were conducted using a portable and adaptable device equipped with compression springs to apply tensile force. The tests were performed by immersing the specimens in Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) to simulate the corrosive environment, and two annealing conditions were employed to analyze the influence of the corrosive environment on the mechanical properties of the material. Based on the results, it was observed that the specimens annealed with a temper- ature of 400°C and a duration of 15 minutes exhibited a significant improvement in mechanical properties, particularly in ductility and corrosion resistance, compared to the samples annealed at 500°C for 15 minutes. The findings highlight the influence of heat treatment on the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of magnesium alloys. Annealing treatments at specific temperatures and durations promote the formation of a protective oxide layer on the alloy surface, enhancing resistance to stress corrosion. The study concluded that the simultaneous effect of stress and the corrosive environment (stress corrosion) was the primary cause of the loss of mechanical properties in both annealing conditions of the WE43 alloy, while stress-independent corrosion contributed only marginally.
Keywords
Magnesium alloys, WE43, biodegradable metal, Biodegradable Implants, stress-corrosion cracking
