Absorbable metals have potential for making in-demand rigid temporary stents for the treatment of urinary tract obstruction, where polymers have reached their limits. In this work, in vitro degradation behavior of absorbable zinc alloys in artificial urine was studied using electrochemical methods and advanced surface characterization techniques with a comparison to a magnesium alloy. The results showed that pure zinc and its alloys (Zn–0.5Mg, Zn–1Mg, Zn–0.5Al) exhibited slower corrosion than pure magnesium and an Mg–2Zn–1Mn alloy. The corrosion layer was composed mostly of hydroxide, carbonate, and phosphate, without calcium content for the zinc group. Among all tested metals, the Zn–0.5Al alloy exhibited a uniform corrosion layer with low affinity with the ions in artificial urine.

Biodegradable metal foams have been studied as potential materials for bone scaffolds. Their mechanical properties largely depend on the relative density and micro-structural geometry. In this work, mechanical behavior of iron foams with different cell sizes was investigated under various compression tests in dry and wet conditions and after subjected to degradation in Hanks’ solution. Statistical analysis was performed using hypothesis and non-parametric tests. The deformation behavior of the foams under compression was also evaluated. Results show that the mechanical properties of the foams under dry compression tests had a “V-type” variation, which is explained as a function of different geometrical properties by using a simple tabular method. The wet environment did not change the compression behavior of the iron foams significantly while degradation decreased the elastic modulus, yield and compression strengths and the energy absorbability of the specimens. The deformation of open cell iron foams under compression is viewed as a complex phenomenon which could be the product of multiple mechanism such as bending, buckling and torsion.

In order to reduce raw material costs, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) resins were produced using recycled materials. In particular, post-consumer polyethylene (PE) and ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM) were used. Nevertheless, a coupling agent based on maleated polyethylene (MAPE) was used to determine if interfacial properties can be modified. The compounds were processed via twin-screw extrusion and then pelletized. The samples were finally produced by compression molding with different EPDM (0, 40, 50, 60, 80, 90%) and MAPE (0, 5, 10 phr) contents giving a wide range of properties. Based on the samples produced, a complete mechanical characterization in terms of tensile, torsion, and flexural properties was performed, as well as morphology, density and hardness. The results show that the effect of coupling agent addition is only important at high EPDM contents with a transition concentration around 60% where a balance between rigidity, elasticity and strength can be obtained.