The external stress-assisted corrosion behavior of Mg alloys for biomedical applications

Performance of Mg implants might deteriorate faster than expected when exposed to a combination of corrosion attack and mechanical stress. Yet, there is limited discussion on stress-promoting effects during corrosion processes of biodegradable Mg alloys. This review unravels the influence of several types of external stress (i.e. tensile, compressive, bending, cyclic and flow shear stress) on the corrosion performance and corrosion-induced mechanical behavior of Mg alloys. Specifically, the alloy processing, testing and coating properties under stress are discussed. It elucidates understanding of Mg corrosion behavior in complex environments coupled with stress, important for optimizing the performance of Mg implants.