Metallic glasses (MGs) are emerging as superior materials for biomedical implants due to their amorphous structure and biocompatibility. Recent studies on Zr-based MGs show corrosion rates as low as 0.001 mm/year in simulated body fluid (SBF), compared to 0.01 mm/year for traditional titanium alloys. Their high elastic modulus (~100 GPa) closely matches that of bone (~30 GPa), reducing stress shielding effects by up to 50%.
The absence of grain boundaries in MGs eliminates sites for crack initiation, resulting in fatigue strengths exceeding 1 GPa after 10^7 cycles. This is particularly advantageous for load-bearing implants like hip replacements, where cyclic loading is a major failure mechanism. Additionally, MGs exhibit wear rates below 10^-6 mm^3/N·m under sliding conditions, significantly outperforming conventional CoCrMo alloys used in joint replacements.
Surface functionalization techniques have further enhanced the bioactivity of MGs. Plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) has been used to introduce bioactive elements like calcium and phosphorus into MG surfaces, promoting hydroxyapatite formation rates up to 50% faster than untreated surfaces. This accelerates osseointegration and reduces healing times by approximately two weeks compared to traditional implants.
Despite these advantages, the brittleness of MGs remains a challenge. However, recent developments in composite MGs reinforced with nanocrystalline phases have improved fracture toughness by up to threefold while maintaining biocompatibility.
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