The invention relates to biodegradable iron alloy-containing compositions for use in preparing medical devices. In addition, biodegradable crystalline and amorphous compositions of the invention exhibit properties that make them suitable for use as medical devices for implantation into a body of a patient. The compositions include elemental iron and one or more elements selected from manganese, magnesium, zirconium, zinc and calcium. The compositions can be prepared using a high energy milling technique. The resulting compositions and the devices formed therefrom are useful in various surgical procedures, such as but not limited to orthopedic, craniofacial and cardiovascular.

The invention relates to biodegradable iron alloy-containing compositions for use in preparing medical devices. In addition, biodegradable crystalline and amorphous compositions of the invention exhibit properties that make them suitable for use as medical devices for implantation into a body of a patient. The compositions include elemental iron and one or more elements selected from manganese, magnesium, zirconium, zinc and calcium. The compositions can be prepared using a high energy milling technique. The resulting compositions and the devices formed therefrom are useful in various surgical procedures, such as but not limited to orthopedic, craniofacial and cardiovascular.

This ferritic spheroidal graphite cast iron contains 3.0% to 3.6% by mass of C, 4.0% to 5.0% by mass of Si, 0.020% to 0.10% by mass of Mg, 1.0% or less of Mn, 0.10% by mass or less of P, and 0.015% by mass or less of S, with the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities.

A spheroidal graphite cast iron having an excellent impact strength at low temperature and a method for producing the same are provided. The present disclosure relates to the spheroidal graphite cast iron comprising: C: 3.5 mass % to 4.2 mass %; Si: 2.0 mass % to 2.8 mass %; Mn: 0.2 mass % to 0.4 mass %; Cu: 0.1 mass % to 0.7 mass %; Mg: 0.02 mass % to 0.06 mass %; Cr: 0.01 mass % to 0.15 mass %; and the balance: Fe and inevitable impurities, wherein Mn+Cr+Cu is 0.431 mass % to 1.090 mass %, a graphite nodule count is 230/mm.sup.2 or less, and a pearlite fraction is 30% to 85%.

A spheroidal graphite cast iron having an excellent impact strength at low temperature and a method for producing the same are provided. The present disclosure relates to the spheroidal graphite cast iron comprising: C: 3.5 mass % to 4.2 mass %; Si: 2.0 mass % to 2.8 mass %; Mn: 0.2 mass % to 0.4 mass %; Cu: 0.1 mass % to 0.7 mass %; Mg: 0.02 mass % to 0.06 mass %; Cr: 0.01 mass % to 0.15 mass %; and the balance: Fe and inevitable impurities, wherein Mn+Cr+Cu is 0.431 mass % to 1.090 mass %, a graphite nodule count is 230/mm.sup.2 or less, and a pearlite fraction is 30% to 85%.

A high rigid spheroidal graphite cast iron, comprising: 2.0 mass % to less than 2.7 mass % or more than 3.0 mass % to less than 3.6 mass % of C, 1.5 to 3.0 mass % of Si, 1.0% or less of Mn, 1.0 mass % or less of Cu, 0.02 to 0.07 mass % of Mg and the residual Fe and inevitable impurities, wherein a carbon equivalent (a CE value) calculated by the mathematical expression (1): CE=C (mass %)+Si (mass %)/3 in terms of C and Si contents is 2.8 to 3.2% within a first range from 2.0 mass % to less than 2.7 mass % of C and is 3.6 to 4.2% within a second range from more than 3.0 mass % to less than 3.6 mass % of C, and the Young's modulus is 170 GPa or more.

A high rigid spheroidal graphite cast iron, comprising: 2.0 mass % to less than 2.7 mass % or more than 3.0 mass % to less than 3.6 mass % of C, 1.5 to 3.0 mass % of Si, 1.0% or less of Mn, 1.0 mass % or less of Cu, 0.02 to 0.07 mass % of Mg and the residual Fe and inevitable impurities, wherein a carbon equivalent (a CE value) calculated by the mathematical expression (1): CE=C (mass %)+Si (mass %)/3 in terms of C and Si contents is 2.8 to 3.2% within a first range from 2.0 mass % to less than 2.7 mass % of C and is 3.6 to 4.2% within a second range from more than 3.0 mass % to less than 3.6 mass % of C, and the Young's modulus is 170 GPa or more.

A ductile iron composition including, by weight: about 3.4% to about 4.0% Si; about 3.0% to about 3.5% C; about 0.5% to about 1.0% Cr; about 0.02% to about 0.05% Mo; up to about 0.01% S; up to about 0.5% Mn; and balance iron and incidental impurities.

The composition has a a ferritic body center cubic microstructure and has a graphite nodule density of greater than 100 per mm.sup.2. A method for forming a ductile iron composition is also disclosed.

A ductile iron composition including, by weight: about 3.4% to about 4.0% Si; about 3.0% to about 3.5% C; about 0.5% to about 1.0% Cr; about 0.02% to about 0.05% Mo; up to about 0.01% S; up to about 0.5% Mn; and balance iron and incidental impurities.

The composition has a a ferritic body center cubic microstructure and has a graphite nodule density of greater than 100 per mm.sup.2. A method for forming a ductile iron composition is also disclosed.

A ductile iron composition including, by weight: about 3.1% to about 3.6% C; about 3.5% to about 4.0% Si; about 0.035% to about 0.050% Mg; about 0.001% to about 0.004% Ce; up to about 0.005% Sb; about 0.008% to about 0.016% S; up to about 0.04% P; up to about 0.3% Mn; and balance iron and incidental impurities;
The ductile iron composition includes a ratio of Sb/Ce greater than or equal to about 1.25, has a ferritic microstructure and graphite nodules, and greater than about 65% of the graphite nodules having a highly spherical geometry. A method and apparatus for forming a ductile iron composition are also disclosed.