Abstract: The invention relates to biodegradable, metal alloy-containing compositions, methods for their preparation and applications for their use. The compositions include magnesium and other components, such as yttrium, calcium, silver, cerium, and zirconium; or zinc, silver, cerium, and zirconium; or aluminum, zinc, calcium, manganese, silver, yttrium; or strontium, calcium, zinc. The compositions are prepared by vacuum induction/crucible melting together the components and casting the melted mixture in a preheated mild steel/copper mold. In certain embodiments, the compositions of the invention are particularly useful for forming medical devices for implantation into a body of a patient.

Abstract: A method for reducing impurities in magnesium comprises: combining a zirconium-containing material with a molten low-impurity magnesium including no more than 1.0 weight percent of total impurities in a vessel to provide a mixture; holding the mixture in a molten state for a period of time sufficient to allow at least a portion of the zirconium-containing material to react with at least a portion of the impurities and form intermetallic compounds; and separating at least a portion of the molten magnesium in the mixture from at least a portion of the intermetallic compounds to provide a purified magnesium including greater than 1000 ppm zirconium. A purified magnesium including at least 1000 ppm zirconium and methods for producing zirconium metal using magnesium reductant also are disclosed.

Abstract: Magnesium-based hydrogen storage alloys having metallic magnesium (Mg) and a magnesium-containing intermetallic compound (MgxMy wherein y is 1?x) and containing not less than 60 mass-% of magnesium in total, and having a phase of a primarily crystallized magnesium-containing intermetallic compound in its solidification structure.

Abstract: Provided is a composite material suitable for forming a part for continuous casting capable of producing cast materials of excellent surface quality for a long period of time and with which a molten metal is inhibited from flowing into a gap between a nozzle and a moving mold. A composite material (nozzle 1) includes a porous body 2 having a large number of pores and a filler incorporated in at least part of a portion that comes into contact with the molten metal, the portion being part of a surface portion of the porous body. The filler incorporated in the porous body 2 is at least one selected from a nitride, a carbide, and carbon.

Abstract: An implant made in total or in parts of a biodegradable magnesium alloy consisting of Y: 2.0-6.0% by weight, Nd: 1.5-4.5% by weight, Gd: 0-4.0% by weight, Dy: 0-4.0% by weight, Er: 0-4.0% by weight, Zr: 0.1-1.0% by weight, Li:0-0.2% by weight, Al: 0-0.3% by weight, under the condition that a) a total content of Er, Gd and Dy is in the range of 0.5-4.0% by weight and b) a total content of Nd, Er, Gd and Dy is in the range of 2.0-5.5% by weight, the balance being magnesium and incidental impurities up to a total of 0.3% by weight.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnesium alloy having controlled corrosion resistance properties, which comprises magnesium (Mg) and an alloying element and includes a magnesium phase and a phase composed of magnesium and the alloying element, wherein the difference in electrical potential between the magnesium phase and the phase composed of magnesium and the alloying element is greater than 0 V but not greater than 0.2 V.

Abstract: An implant consisting entirely or in part of a biocorrodible magnesium alloy having the composition Gd: 2.7-15.0 wt %, Zn: 0-0.5 wt %, Zr: 0.2-1.0 wt %, Nd: 0-4.5 wt %, Y: 0-2.0 wt %, where magnesium and impurities due to the production process account for the remainder to a total of 100 wt %.

Abstract: Magnesium alloys containing: Y: 2.0-6.0% by weight Nd: 0-4.0% by weight Gd: 0-5.5% by weight Dy: 0-5.5% by weight Er: 0-5.5% by weight Zr: 0.05-1.0% by weight Zn+Mn: <0.11% by weight, optionally other rare earths and heavy rare earths, the balance being magnesium and incidental impurities and the total content of Gd, Dy and Er is in the range of 0.3-12% by weight, wherein either the alloy contains low amounts of Yb and Sm and exhibits a corrosion rate as measured according to ASTM B117 of less than 30 Mpy, and/or the area percentage of any precipitated particles arising when the alloy is processed having an average particle size greater than 1 m and less than 15 m is less than 3%.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus including a magnesium alloy vessel that is substantially free of aluminum and zinc, but including magnesium in combination with a gettering metal and a method for making such apparatus. The magnesium alloy vessel has a hollow interior cavity containing a working fluid, with a stable, protective layer formed on the inside wall of the vessel so as to establish non-corrosive compatibility with the working fluid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and structure of deformable alloys on the basis of magnesium with an optimum combination of mechanical properties (strength, plasticity) and a resistance to corrosion, including in vivo. Alloys of the new group possess an excellent formability at room temperature, high corrosion stability in sodium chloride solution, excellent heat resistance and can be used in various technical applications, particularly in vivo as a structural material for stents.

Abstract: The present invention provides an implant consisting of a biodegradable magnesium-based alloy or partially applied with the magnesium-based alloy, and a method for manufacturing the same. The implant according to the present invention is biodegradable, in which its biodegradation rate can be easily controlled, and the implant has excellent strength and interfacial strength to an osseous tissue.

Abstract: Multi-component magnesium-based alloy consisting essentially of about 1.0-15.0 wt. % of scandium, about 0.1-3.0 wt. % of yttrium, about 1.0-3.0 wt. % of rare-earth metal, about 0.1-0.5 wt. % of zirconium. Purity degree of magnesium base is not less of 99.995 wt. %. Impurities of Fe, Ni and Cu do not exceed 0.001 wt. % of everyone, the contents of other impurity in an alloy does not exceed 0.005 wt. %. The alloy demonstrates an improved combination of strength, deformability and corrosion resistance at room temperature. The alloy does not contain harmful and toxic impurities. The alloy can be used in the various practical applications demanding a combination of high strength, deformability and corrosion resistance, preferably in the field of medicine.

Abstract: A method for making Mg(magnesium)-based intermetallic compound uses a thermal process during a melting process to produce largely the Mg-based intermetallic compound. The vapor pressure of Mg is high, thereby Mg is prone to be vaporized from a melt and a wrought solid alloy in the melting process of high temperature, for purifying the wrought Mg-based intermetallic compound. The method may simplify the process and devices for making the Mg-based intermetallic compound, and produce efficiently a larger of high purity Mg-based intermetallic compound.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy containing a phase of a chemical composition defined by a general formula A5·xB1+xC24: wherein in the general formula A5·xB1+xC24, A denotes one or more element(s) selected from rare earth elements; B denotes one or more element(s) selected from a group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba; C denotes one or more element(s) selected from a group consisting of Ni, Co, Mn, Al, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, Si, Sn, V, Nb, Ta, Ti, Zr, and Hf; and x denotes a numeral in a range from ?0.1 to 0.8: and the phase has a crystal structure belonging to a space group of R-3m and having a length ratio of the c-axis to the a-axis of the lattice constant in a range of 11.5 to 12.5.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a magnesium alloy material such as a magnesium alloy cast material or a magnesium alloy rolled material, excellent in mechanical characteristics and surface precision, a producing method capable of stably producing such material, a magnesium alloy formed article utilizing the rolled material, and a producing method therefor. The invention provides a producing method for a magnesium alloy material, including a melting step of melting a magnesium alloy in a melting furnace to obtain a molten metal, a transfer step of transferring the molten metal from the melting furnace to a molten metal reservoir, and a casting step of supplying a movable mold with the molten metal from the molten metal reservoir, through a pouring gate, and solidifying the molten metal to continuously produce a cast material. In a process from the melting step to the casting step, parts contacted by the molten metal are formed by a low-oxygen material having an oxygen content of 20 mass % or less.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wrought magnesium alloy having excellent strength and extrusion or rolling formability, and a method of producing the same. The wrought magnesium alloy comprises 0.1-1.5 at % group IIIa, 1.0-4.0 at % group IIIb, 0.35 at % or less of one selected from the group consisting of groups IIa, IVa, VIIa, IVb, and a mixture thereof, 1.0 at % or less of group IIb, and a balance of Mg and unavoidable impurities and thus has a second phase composite microstructure. The wrought magnesium alloy of the present invention has high strength, toughness, and formability in addition to the electromagnetic wave shield ability of magnesium. Accordingly, the wrought magnesium alloy is a material useful to portable electronic goods, such as notebook personal computers, mobile phones, digital cameras, camcorders, CD players, PDA, or MP3 players, automotive parts, such as engine room hoods, oil pans, or inner panel of door, or structural parts for airplane.

Abstract: In a metalliferous storage material for hydrogen a metal oxide is provided in or on the surface of the metalliferous materialas a catalyst for the hydrogenation or dehydrogenation of the metalliferous storage material.

Abstract: An anodized magnesium piston including a head and skirt for an internal combustion engine. The piston includes a non-fiber-reinforced, magnesium-based alloy including up to 2.5 percent by weight rare earth metals. The piston further includes an external surface, at least a portion of which has a base layer of magnesium fluoride, magnesium oxofluoride, magnesium oxide or a mixture thereof electrochemically anodized thereto.

Abstract: Disclosed is a very light-weight, Mg and Be-based material which has the ability to reversibly store hydrogen with very good kinetics. This material is of the formula (M.sub.1-x A.sub.x) D.sub.y wherein M is Mg, Be or a combination of them; A is an element selected from the group consisting of Li, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Al, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, In, Sn, O, Si, B, C and F; D is a metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir and Pt (preferably Pd); x is a number ranging from 0 to 0.3; and y is a number ranging from 0 to 0.15. This material is in the form of a powder of particles of the formula M.sub.1-x A.sub.x as defined hereinabove, having an average size ranging from 0.1 to 100 .mu.m, each particle consisting of nanocrystalline grains having an average size of 3 to 100 nm or having a nano-layered structure with a layer spacing of 3 to 100 nm. Some of these particles have clusters of metal D attached thereto, with an average size ranging from 2 to 200 nm.

Abstract: The invention provides a magnesium manganese alloy suitable for use in the production of a pellet 10 for administration to a ruminant by dposition in its rumenoreticular sac. A typical pellet 10 comprises a magnesium alloy tube 12 enclosing a degradable core formed of plurality of tablets 14, 16. The magnesium alloy used in the construction comprises at least 90% by weight of magnesium, uyp to 1% zinc and up to 2% of manganese. Preferably the alloy may further include aluminium, silicon or zirconium along with iron and beryllium. When deposited in an animal's rumen the alloy reacts with the rumen juices to form an anodic film over the exposed surface of the tube 12. This prevents corrosion or dissolution of the tube 12 except at its exposed ends where galvanic corrosion by coupling with the electrically conductive core 14, 16 is provided. The normal requirement of a non-degradable exterior coating e.g. resin for the tube exterior is obviated.

Abstract: Magnesium lithium based alloys prepared by mechanical alloying are disclosed.