Magnesium and its alloys are some of the materials that have had notable growing progress in recent years. This interest in magnesium base alloys is due to both, its physical and mechanical properties, as well as the search for alternatives to less polluting materials. In order to provide an overview of the possibilities that the use of this material has in the domestic industry, this work gives a look at the basic aspects of the material and the processes of obtaining; its most promising applications and with potential to be developed in Colombia. Finally, the authors discuss their research and results on this material, seeking to be employed as inputs for the implementation of processes and products at the commercial level.Keyword: Magnesium; magnesium synthesis; magnesium applications; magnesium sustainability.Desarrollo de la industria de aleaciones de magnesio en ColombiaUna oportunidad ResumenDentro de los materiales que más avance han tenido en las últimas décadas, se encuentran el magnesio y sus aleaciones, cuyo volumen de producción mundial se ha incrementado notoriamente en los últimos años. El creciente interés en el magnesio se debe tanto a sus propiedades físicas y mecánicas como a la búsqueda de alternativas de materiales menos contaminantes. Con el objeto de proporcionar una visión general de las posibilidades que el uso de este material tiene en la industria nacional, en este trabajo se da una mirada a los aspectos básicos del material y de los procesos de obtención del mismo, así como a sus aplicaciones más promisorias y con potencial de ser desarrolladas en Colombia. Para finalizar, los autores discuten sus investigaciones y resultados acerca de este material, buscando su aprovechamiento como insumo para la implementación de procesos y productos a nivel comercial.Palabras clave: magnesio; síntesis de magnesio; aplicaciones del magnesio; sostenibilidad del magnesio.

The introduction of modular design in total hip arthroplasty has enabled the use of different materials in one single configuration and the adjustment of the prosthesis to the patient’s body, and facilitated medical revisions. However, modularity leads to the presence of new interfaces created between pieces in contact, raising the issue of degradation.  Tribocorrosion phenomena have been identified as the main degradation mechanism due to the mechanical, chemical, and electrochemical conditions acting on the materials.  In addition, conditions inside the human body are unclear, regarding electrochemical settings and the interaction between the electrochemical and mechanical action. This work is focused on the degradation of monopolar hip joint implants made from biomedical alloys such as stainless steel, Ti, and CoCr alloys. Three cases are presented and analyzed in terms of the degradation level along the trunnion length. Surface analysis done on a titanium trunnion showed a significant ploughing on the distal part, compared to what was found for stainless Steel and cobalt-chromium alloys, which can produce a stuck in this area. Meanwhile, in the proximal part, wear debris is found, which suggests more movement in the internal part. Although few debris particles were identified in CoCr trunnion, a large amount of material inside the contact was observed. This could be related to the ploughing generated in the distal thread pattern, which allowed the material to come inside and outside the contact.

During their service life, modular interfaces experience tribological, and corrosion phenomena that lead to deterioration, which in turn can cause a revision procedure to remove the failed prosthesis. To achieve a clearer understanding of the surface performance of those biomedical alloys and the role of the surface properties in the mechanical and chemical performance, samples were taken from retrieval implants made of Ti6Al4V and Co28Cr6Mo alloys. Polarization resistance and pin-on-disk tests were performed on these samples. Physical properties such as contact angle, roughness, microhardness, and Young’s modulus were determined. A correlation between surface energy and evolution of the tribological contact was observed for both biomedical alloys. In tribocorrosion tests, titanium particles seem to remain in the surface, unlike what is observed in CoCr alloys. These metallic or oxidized particles could cause necrosis or adverse tissue reactions.