ABSTRACT
The drawbacks of magnesium and its alloys have hampered their clinical applications. In fact, the low strength of as-cast magnesium and the biocompatibility issues related to their high corrosion rates are such that using them would not be safe. In addition, the H2 gas evolved from the corrosion process can embrittle the implant because of hydrogen embrittlement phenomena. In such a scenario, different techniques are being used to overcome these drawbacks. Grain refinement, solid solution strengthening, and precipitation hardening, mainly obtained by heat treatment and adding alloying elements, are being used to increase the mechanical properties of these materials. However, such techniques also influence the corrosion and biological performances of these materials. Thus, in this chapter, the interplay between mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility, and the link among these three properties are highlighted. Additionally, we describe how each strategy improves the targeted property (mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility) and how it affects the other two properties providing an understanding of the interplay between properties and techniques to improve them.
