Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 6
Nanostructured Stainless Steels
Maciej Tulinski
Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, Poznan University of Technology,
Sklodowska-Curie 5 Sq., 60-965 Poznan, Poland
maciej.tulinski@put.poznan.pl
Metallic materials are widely used as biomaterials, replacing the
structural components of the human body. This is because, in
comparison to polymeric materials and ceramics, they have better
mechanical properties such as tensile strength, fatigue strength,
and resistance to cracking, characteristics that are crucial in
biomedical applications [24].
316L stainless steel has inferior corrosion resistance comparing
to cobalt-chromium alloys and titanium alloys [18]. For example,
orthopedic implants made of 316L stainless steel corrode in the
tissue environment, releasing iron, chromium, and nickel ions into
the body.
Nickel ions are considered to be a very important factor in causing
allergies and even cancer [32]. The number of women suffering
from an allergy to nickel doubles every decade. Dermatologists
estimate that about 20% of women and 4% of men on the earth
have allergy to nickel. The main cause of allergy to nickel is wearing
jewelry.
