Fabrication of Electrodeposited Pure Zinc with Excellent Strength and Ductility Balance

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) is expected to be a biodegradable material because of its high biocompatibility and moderate biodegradability. However, its mechanical properties are poor and must be improved for practical use. In this study, pure Zn was prepared using an electrodeposition process that can produce alloys with fine grains and excellent strength and ductility balance. With the possibility of Zn being expanded to other applications such as alloying, pyrophosphate and chloride baths with simple bath compositions and high current efficiencies were used as basic baths. We succeeded in producing dense specimens using a chloride bath with high current efficiency, where the complexing agent affected the mechanical properties. Pure Zn prepared in an ammonium chloride bath showed the maximum elongation of 44.5%, yield stress of 109 MPa, and tensile strength of 132 MPa. The strength and ductility balance were comparable to those of strongly processed pure Zn.

Stress-strain curves of pure Zn prepared in this study.