# Metallic glasses for biodegradable implants

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a theoretical model within the AFLOW framework to predict glass-forming ability of metallic glasses, focusing on biologically relevant systems for biodegradable implants, and identifies promising alloy compositions for orthopedic applications.

## Contribution

A new predictive model for glass-forming ability based on crystalline phase competition, applied to biologically relevant alloy systems for biodegradable implants.

## Key findings

- Identified alloy families suitable for biodegradable orthopedic support.
- Predicted elastic properties using rule of mixtures for bulk glass-formers.
- Suggested specific alloy compositions for further experimental validation.

## Abstract

Metallic glasses are excellent candidates for biomedical implant applications due to their inherent strength and corrosion resistance. Use of metallic glasses in structural applications is limited, however, because bulk dimensions are challenging to achieve. Glass-forming ability (GFA) varies strongly with alloy composition and becomes more difficult to predict as the number of chemical species in a system increases. Here we present a theoretical model - implemented in the AFLOW framework - for predicting GFA based on the competition between crystalline phases, and apply it to biologically relevant binary and ternary systems. Elastic properties are estimated based on the rule of mixtures for alloy systems that are predicted to be bulk glass-formers. Focusing on Ca- and Mg-based systems for use in biodegradable orthopedic support applications, we suggest alloys in the AgCaMg and AgMgZn families for further study; and alloys based on the compositions: Ag$_{0.33}$Mg$_{0.67}$, Cu$_{0.5}$Mg$_{0.5}$, Cu$_{0.37}$Mg$_{0.63}$ and Cu$_{0.25}$Mg$_{0.5}$Zn$_{0.25}$.