Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p> This study investigates the effect of silver addition on a newly developed multicomponent magnesium alloy with the base composition Mg-2Zn-1Mn-0.15Ca-0.1Sn. Microstructural analysis revealed that the base alloy (WOAg) exhibited a predominantly solid solution microstructure with minimal intermetallic, whereas the silver-containing alloy (WAg) showed the formation of Mg₂Zn and MnZn₃ phases. Mechanical and physical characterization indicated that silver addition enhanced tensile strength, hardness, and wettability. Electrochemical tests confirmed reduced corrosion resistance of WAg, with a corrosion rate of 22.1 mm/year compared to 6.9 mm/year for WOAg. Machinability was further evaluated using electrical discharge machining (EDM) with a Taguchi L9 design. Analysis revealed that peak current was the dominant factor influencing material removal rate (MRR), tool wear rate (TWR), and surface roughness (Ra). Compared to WOAg, the WAg alloy exhibited higher MRR, slightly higher TWR, and improved surface finish, indicating superior machinability. Biocompatibility assessments demonstrated enhanced cell proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, and extracellular matrix mineralization in WAg, along with significant antibacterial activity against <italic>E. coli</italic> and <italic>S. aureus</italic> . Collectively, the silver-containing magnesium alloy exhibited improved mechanical, electrochemical, machinability, and biological properties, highlighting its strong potential for biomedical implant applications. </p>