Novel low Cu content and Ni-free Zr-based bulk metallic glasses for biomedical applications

Novel Ni-free Zr-based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) with low Cu contents (~ 10 at.%) have been developed, which are attractive for biomedical applications. Potentially toxic elements (i.e., Ni and Cu) are reduced or eliminated in order to improve the biocompatibility of the alloys. Glass formation and material properties including compressive strength and plasticity, elastic constants, density, corrosion resistance, and in vitro cytotoxicity are systematically evaluated. The BMGs developed in the present study integrate suitable properties of high glass-forming ability, excellent mechanical properties, high corrosion resistance, and good cytocompatibility, which suggest their promising potential to serve as biomedical materials. The good biocompatibility can be attributed to their amorphous structure-related high corrosion resistance as well as their unique compositions, i.e. low Cu contents and free of Ni.