Biodegradable Zn–Mn–Li alloy with a promising balance of mechanical property and corrosion resistance

To address the current issues of brittleness and lower mechanical performance for Zn alloys, the Zn–Mn–Li system that has significant potential for enhancing strength and toughness is selected for the design, fabrication, and investigation. Li and Mn are selected as alloying elements, and a series of Zn-0.4Mn-xLi alloys are prepared. A comprehensive study of as-cast alloys is conducted on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion behavior. The results reveal that the initially precipitated β-LiZn4 phase in the as-cast Zn-0.4Mn-xLi alloys gradually transforms into a β-LiZn4/Zn lamellar structure with the increase of Li content. The β-LiZn4/Zn lamellar structure significantly contributes to the strength of the alloy. The as-cast Zn-0.4Mn-0.8Li alloy exhibits optimal mechanical strength, with yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of 203.2 ± 8.9 MPa and 271.5 ± 20.0 MPa, respectively. Electrochemical and immersion experiments indicate a dense Li-rich corrosion product layer formed on the alloy surface suppresses the generation of pitting corrosion and enhances the corrosion resistance of the alloy. These results manifest that the Li content of the Zn–Mn–Li alloy has a significant influence on the performance, such as the microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion behavior. According to the results of mechanical properties and corrosion behavior, Zn-0.4Mn-0.8Li alloy exhibits an optimal comprehensive performance, which provides valuable insight for the development of superior Zn–Mn–Li alloys.