Polarization studies of surgical materials in ringer's solution

Abstract

Abstract The corrosion resistance of materials employed for surgical applications was dertermined and compared by means of potentiostatic anodic polarization techniques. In a physiological saline solution the passive breakdown potential of stainless steel materials was dependent upon the oxygen content opf the solution, and the microstructure of the material. The breakdown is passivity was found to be due to a pitting type of corrosion attack. Pure titanium remained passive within the limits employed in this investigation. Even though cast vitallium did not exhibit passivity breakdown in the form of a pitting attack, polarization behavior between the behavior for stainless stell and pure titanium was observed.