LAUSR

Abstract Localized corrosion makes Zn vulnerable to unpredictable fracture under stress loading, resulting in mechanical failure when used as implants in human body. This study reveals that 0.8 wt.% Li alloying suppresses pitting corrosion of Zn significantly in simulated body fluid, resulting in 290 times less of localized corrosion volume after immersion for 30 days. A corrosion layer with two sub-layers forms on the alloy surface. The 10-nm-thick inner layer consists of amorphous Li2O/LiOH and ZnO/Zn(OH)2, while the 55-nm-thick outer sub-layer consists of Li2CO3 polycrystals, which is very effective to suppress pitting corrosion by blocking chloride ion penetration.