Creep properties of biodegradable Zn-0.1Li alloy at human body temperature: implications for its durability as stents

This is the first report on creep properties of biodegradable zinc alloys at human body temperature. The extruded Zn-0.1Li (wt.%) alloy exhibits appreciable creep deformation at 37°C under stresses ranging 80–230 MPa within 500 h. The creep deformation at low stresses (80–155 MPa, about 0.4–0.8 yield strength) is characterized by a stress exponent of about 4 and an activation energy close to that for self-diffusion of zinc, which are typical of dislocation creep. The implications of creep at human body temperature for durability of biodegradable zinc alloys as stents are discussed.