Manuscript Topics

Biodegradable metals represent a transformative solution for temporary medical implants, offering mechanical support during tissue healing and safely degrading afterward, thus avoiding the need for secondary removal surgeries. The most extensively studied systems—magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) alloys—each present unique advantages and challenges related to corrosion behavior, mechanical performance, and biocompatibility. While progress has been substantial, key limitations remain, particularly in achieving sufficient mechanical strength and predictable degradation.

One of the primary challenges in this field is ensuring that implants maintain mechanical integrity under physiological loads for the necessary healing period while degrading at a controlled rate thereafter. Achieving this balance is complex, as corrosion can prematurely weaken the material. Current research focuses on improving strength, ductility, and fatigue resistance without accelerating degradation beyond desirable limits. To overcome these challenges, researchers are employing established metallurgical strategies. Grain refinement through thermomechanical processing, such as extrusion or friction stir processing, enhances strength via the Hall–Petch effect and may promote more uniform degradation. Precipitation hardening, achieved by alloying with biocompatible elements like calcium, manganese, or rare earths, helps stabilize microstructures and improve strength. Solid-solution strengthening and dispersion of fine particles are also being explored to boost mechanical properties and resist localized corrosion damage.

Emerging processing technologies such as additive manufacturing offer new opportunities to tailor implant geometry and microstructure for specific applications. However, the long-term mechanical and corrosion behavior of additively manufactured biodegradable metals remains underexplored and is an active area of research.

Another critical research focus is the interaction between corrosion and mechanical degradation. Corrosion can cause cross-sectional loss, stress concentrations, and crack initiation, leading to premature failure. Developing predictive models that link degradation behavior to mechanical performance under physiological conditions is essential. At the same time, standardized testing protocols that reflect in vivo environments are needed to evaluate material performance more reliably.

Surface treatments are also being investigated to enhance biocompatibility and delay the onset of corrosion. These include coatings and passivation layers designed to work in concert with the material’s degradation profile while preserving load-bearing capacity.

This special issue aims to highlight recent advances in the development, processing, and characterization of biodegradable metals. Topics include, but are not limited to:
• Alloy design for enhanced mechanical performance
• Corrosion–mechanics interactions
• Additive manufacturing and thermomechanical processing routes
• Surface modification and coating strategies
• In vitro and in vivo testing protocols
• Modeling and simulation of degradation and mechanical behavior

Contributions from both fundamental and applied perspectives are welcome to support the multidisciplinary effort required to bring biodegradable metallic systems into clinical practice.

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