In Vitro Corrosion Study by EIS of Stainless Steel for Orthopaedic Applications

Abstract

Stainless steel 316L is one of the most common biomaterials utilized for producing orthopedic implants. Since the device is in constant contact with the blood, which is a highly corrosive environment, it is necessary to know the effects of corrosion on the screw plates. Currently 316L stainless steel is the material most commonly used for osteosynthesis. To assess the sensitivity of the screw plates in physiological media of the corrosion test plate required. The 316L stainless steel plates were tested for corrosion characteristics. The corrosion behavior of orthopaedic implant stainless steel 316L has been studied in a simulated body fluid using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. Polarization experiments were conducted after 4 h, 6 h, 24 h, 48 h, 168 h, 215 h, 10 days and 15 days, of immersion in Ringer’s solution. Very low current densities were obtained, indicating the formation of a passive layer. Impedance spectra, represented in the Nyquist plan, exhibited a single constant system suggesting the formation of one layer.