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Antibacterial Fe-xCu biomedical alloys are designed to have a satisfactory biodegradation rate compared with pure iron. Fe-xCu (x ¼ 0, 1.5, 2.3, 7.8, and 10.1 wt%) alloys are produced by selective laser melting (SLM). Alloying with Cu has a significant influence on the grain size, hardness, biodegradation rate, and antibacterial performance of SLMed Fe-xCu alloys. Increasing Cu content decreases the grain size and increases the hardness. SLMed Fe-1.5Cu, Fe-2.3Cu, and Fe-10.1Cu have degradation rates similar to that of pure iron, while the degradation rate of SLMed Fe-7.8Cu is almost 2.5 times faster. The SLMed Fe-2.3Cu, Fe-7.8Cu, and Fe-10.1Cu produce strong antibacterial performance. The mechanisms of degradation behavior and antibacterial performance are clarified. SLMed Fe-7.8Cu had appropriate mechanical properties, satisfactory degradation rates, strong antibacterial performance, and good cytocompatibility, and therefore is a novel type of antibacterial biomedical alloy with good potential for clinical application.

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This research produced a porous Fe-8 wt.% Cu alloy by microwave sintering in order to achieve (i) an increased biodegradation rate, and (ii) an antibacterial function. The Fe-8Cu alloy had higher density, hardness and degradation rate (about 2 times higher) but smaller and fewer surface pores, compared to the pure Fe. The Fe-8Cu alloy had a strong antibacterial function (the antibacterial rates against E. coli were up to 99.9%) and good biocompatibility. This work provides a novel approach of alloy design and processing to develop novel antibacterial Fe-based alloys.

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