Microstructure Evolution and Properties of β-TCP/Mg-Zn-Ca Biocomposite Processed by Hot Extrusion Combined with Multi-Pass ECAP
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Dear Authors,
The manuscript focuses on fabrication of tri-calcium phosphate (TCP) Mg-Zn alloy by casting method followed by ECAP processing. The obtained composite microstructure was evaluated by optical and electron microscopy, and its mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility were evaluated as well.
The manuscript contains some novelty, experiments are carried out systematically, and the content of the manuscript is relevant to the scope of the journal. However, a major revision is needed for further consideration for publication. The specific comments are follows:
- I strongly recommend to mention the follow recent works on ECAP processing on Mg based alloys in Introduction:
- Subramani, et al. Effect of SiC nanoparticles on AZ31 magnesium alloy, Materials 2022, 15(3), 1004.
S.-J. Huang et al., Strength and ductility enhancement of AZ61/Al2O3/SiC hybrid composite by ECAP processing, Mater. Today Commun. 2022, 31, 103261.
- What is the content of beta-TCP nanoparticles, what are their size, who is the manufacturer or home-made? Authors need to explain why they used nano-sized materials instead of micro-sized.
- Authors need to add XRD analysis parameters used in the work such as current, voltage, scan time, geometry.
- Authors can delete Table 2 since the content of ions in SBF is known.
- In Figure 2 only the phase of Mg is observed. If authors have identified any additional phases, they have to enlarge the relevant area in XRD pattern to show peaks appearance.
- Figure 4c is impressive, however, authors have to add values of the elemental composition.
- The scale in Figure 7 is too small and its resolution is very low, authors need to improve this image.
Author Response
We would like to thank the reviewers and the editors for their careful and thorough reading of this manuscript and for the thoughtful comments and constructive suggestions, which help to improve the quality of this manuscript. Point-by-point responses to the comments are provided in the attached file.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The author’s paper entitled “ Microstructure Evolution and Properties of β-TCP/ Mg-Zn-Ca 2 Biocomposite Processed by Hot Extrusion Combined with 3 Multi-pass ECAP” is interesting, also for scientists from related research fields. The Abstract summarizes the contents of the manuscript objectively. The Introduction is adequate and reflects the state of the art. The experimental section is presented correctly and in adequate detail. The results and discussion are clear and well presented. Tables and figures are adequate, clear and legible. Globally, the paper is well written, detailed and the conclusions are well supported by the data. Overall it is my opinion that this is a very good manuscript and should be accepted for publication.
Author Response
We would like to thank the reviewer for the careful and thorough reading of this manuscript and for the thoughtful comments. We appreciate the positive comments and these comments give us the motivation to continue research in the biodegradable composites field.
Reviewer 3 Report
- The English language style of the current manuscript should be improved by an expert native language.
- The abstract should be improved, and the authors must reduce the repeated Mg-3Zn-0.2Ca in the abstract
- The introduction section needs to be updated and improved
- The novelty of the work does not appear
- Figure 10 is too bad; please add more clear one
Author Response
We would like to thank the reviewers and the editors for their careful and thorough reading of this manuscript and for the thoughtful comments and constructive suggestions, which help to improve the quality of this manuscript. Point-by-point responses to the comments are provided in the attached file.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Thank you for considering my remarks.
