Date of Graduation
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Biomedical Engineering
Advisor/Mentor
Mostafa Elsaadany
Abstract
To address challenges associated with the use of magnesium for orthopedic implants, recent work has explored the incorporation of boron nitride (BN) nanoparticles into magnesium matrices to enhance structural integrity and corrosion resistance. In this study, Mg–3 wt.% BN, Mg–1.5 wt.% BN, and Mg–0.5 wt.% BN were characterized and evaluated to assess their suitability for orthopedic implant applications. A combination of analytical techniques was used to capture both structural and performance-related properties. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed more uniform nanoparticle dispersion in the Mg–0.5 wt.% BN and Mg–1.5 wt.% BN samples, while the Mg–3 wt.% BN sample exhibited noticeable particle clustering. Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis showed an increase in oxygen content following immersion in cell culture media, indicating the formation of corrosion products. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) performed before and after potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) testing confirmed magnesium as the dominant phase and possible traces of MgO and Mg (OH)₂. Contact angle measurements demonstrated a decrease with increasing BN content, suggesting enhanced surface wettability. Immersion testing highlighted significant differences in degradation behavior: the Mg–0.5 wt.% BN and Mg–1.5 wt.% BN samples experienced complete structural degradation within 6 days, while the Mg–3 wt.% BN sample retained a significant portion of its original disc structure. Furthermore, pH measurements showed higher alkalinity for lower BN content and comparatively lower pH values at higher BN concentrations, indicating more controlled degradation. Corrosion rate calculations based on immersion testing were only feasible for the Mg–3 wt.% BN sample, as it was the only composition that maintained sufficient integrity throughout the test. The calculated corrosion rate of approximately 0.013 mm/year for this sample indicates a more stable but excessively slow degradation compared to the ideal degradation range of 0.02 – 0.3mm/year. Overall, these results suggest that neither extreme is ideal, and that an optimal BN concentration likely exists between Mg–1.5 wt.% BN and Mg–3 wt.% BN, where both structural integrity and a more suitable degradation rate can be achieved.
Keywords
Mg–BN nanocomposites; Biodegradable implants; Corrosion rate analysis; Nanoparticle dispersion; Contact angle measurement; XRD characterization
Citation
Tchoungang, N. L., & Elsaadany, M. (2026). Characterization and Performance Assessment of Magnesium-Boron Nitride Nanocomposites for Orthopedic Implant Suitability. Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/bmeguht/173
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