**4.3 Selecting the fabrication technique**

The fabrication methods used to produce Mg-based composites for biomedical purposes are listed below. The processes techniques can be divided in either liquid state (casting) or solid-state processing route (powder metallurgy). Routes that involves casting promotes the insertion of the hard phase in a liquid bath of the matrix-metal, while solid-state routes achieve dense consolidated composites without melting the materials. In this case, the particles consolidation should be induced by high-temperature diffusion and/or plastic deformation. To ensure a full densification of the composite, great majority of the solid-state techniques takes place at high temperatures, but below materials' melting point. All processing techniques should enable an efficient matrix-reinforcement bonding and a homogeneous dispersion of the hard phase, since agglomeration and internal cracks are deleterious to corrosion and mechanical properties [36, 37].
