| Abstract Scope |
Bioresorbable (BR) zinc-based alloys have been demonstrated as promising candidates for temporary stents to treat coronary artery disease (CAD), thereby alleviating the long-term complications associated with permanent implants. Bioresorbable stents must not only have adequate strength, ductility, biodegradation, and biocompatibility, but also maintain mechanical integrity for the required 3-6 months in-vivo while subjected to cyclical and static forces. In this study, the response of a hot-extruded senary Zn-Ag-Cu-Mn-Zr-Ti alloy, previously demonstrated to have suitable mechanical properties for stents, to these loading conditions is evaluated. Fatigue and creep tests, both in air at room temperature, and in a modified Hank’s balanced salt solution at body temperature, are preformed to determine the influence of environmental and microstructural variables on the alloy’s resistance to cyclical loading and prolonged constant-stress loading, respectively. To date, the creep behavior of BR zinc-based alloys has received very little attention, and their corrosion-fatigue resistance has not been investigated. |