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Micromachines
Volume 17
Issue 1
10.3390/mi17010007
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Effect of Heat Treatment on Microstructural Evolution, Mechanical Properties, and Degradation Behavior of Zn-3Mg Alloy Fabricated by Laser Additive Manufacturing

by
Changjun Han
1,
Zhilang Chen
1,
Hongtian Liu
1,
Cheng Deng
2,*,
Zhi Dong
1,
Cheng Chen
1,
Jinmiao Huang
1,
Yongqiang Yang
1 and
Di Wang
1,*
1
School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China
2
College of Mechatronics Engineering, Guangdong Polytechnic Normal University, Guangzhou 510635, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Micromachines 2026, 17(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi17010007 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 17 October 2025 / Accepted: 17 December 2025 / Published: 20 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Prospects of Additive Manufacturing, 2nd Edition)
Versions Notes

Abstract

The Zn-3Mg alloy fabricated by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing is widely used in biomedical implants due to its excellent biocompatibility and favorable mechanical strength. However, its application is hindered by limited ductility and a relatively rapid degradation rate. This study investigated the influence of annealing heat treatment on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and degradation behavior of LPBF-fabricated Zn-3Mg porous implants. A systematic analysis of various annealing parameters revealed the evolution mechanisms of the microstructure, including grain coarsening and the precipitation and distribution of secondary phases Mg2Zn11 and MgZn2. The results indicated that appropriate annealing conditions (such as 250 °C for 1 h) significantly enhanced the compressive strain by 10%, while maintaining a high compressive strength of 24.72 MPa. In contrast, excessive annealing temperatures (e.g., 365 °C) promoted the formation of continuous brittle phases along grain boundaries, leading to deterioration in mechanical performance. The degradation behavior analysis illustrated a substantial increase in the corrosion rates from 0.6973 mm/year to 1.00165 mm/year after annealing at 250 °C for 0.5 h and 365 °C for 1 h, which can be attributed to the micro-galvanic effect induced by the presence of fine or coarse secondary phases that promoted localized corrosion. This study demonstrated synergistic regulation of mechanical properties and degradation behavior in the Zn-3Mg porous structures through optimized heat treatment, thereby providing essential theoretical and experimental supports for the clinical application of biodegradable zinc-based implants.
Keywords: zinc–magnesium alloy; laser powder bed fusion; annealing; triply periodic minimal surface; degradation zinc–magnesium alloy; laser powder bed fusion; annealing; triply periodic minimal surface; degradation

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Han, C.; Chen, Z.; Liu, H.; Deng, C.; Dong, Z.; Chen, C.; Huang, J.; Yang, Y.; Wang, D. Effect of Heat Treatment on Microstructural Evolution, Mechanical Properties, and Degradation Behavior of Zn-3Mg Alloy Fabricated by Laser Additive Manufacturing. Micromachines 2026, 17, 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi17010007

AMA Style

Han C, Chen Z, Liu H, Deng C, Dong Z, Chen C, Huang J, Yang Y, Wang D. Effect of Heat Treatment on Microstructural Evolution, Mechanical Properties, and Degradation Behavior of Zn-3Mg Alloy Fabricated by Laser Additive Manufacturing. Micromachines. 2026; 17(1):7. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi17010007

Chicago/Turabian Style

Han, Changjun, Zhilang Chen, Hongtian Liu, Cheng Deng, Zhi Dong, Cheng Chen, Jinmiao Huang, Yongqiang Yang, and Di Wang. 2026. "Effect of Heat Treatment on Microstructural Evolution, Mechanical Properties, and Degradation Behavior of Zn-3Mg Alloy Fabricated by Laser Additive Manufacturing" Micromachines 17, no. 1: 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi17010007

APA Style

Han, C., Chen, Z., Liu, H., Deng, C., Dong, Z., Chen, C., Huang, J., Yang, Y., & Wang, D. (2026). Effect of Heat Treatment on Microstructural Evolution, Mechanical Properties, and Degradation Behavior of Zn-3Mg Alloy Fabricated by Laser Additive Manufacturing. Micromachines, 17(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi17010007

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