This work has compared the surfaces of two different steel samples used as orthopedical implants, classified as ASTM F138 and ISO5832-9, through optical emission spectroscopy, by means of SEM and EDS. The samples (implants) were also submitted to potentiodynamic cyclic polarization in Ringer lactate and NaCl 0.9 M L-1 solutions; ISO5832-9 sample did not show any kind of localized corrosion, but in the case of F138 steel was observed a pit localized corrosion in both solutions. In Ringer lactate solution it was observed a loss of about 63% for nickel and 26% for iron for F138 stell, compared to the initial composition.

OBJETIVO: Este trabalho estudou a composição química e metalográfica (microestrutura, tamanho de grão, teor de inclusões) de aços inoxidáveis austeníticos, desenvolvidos para aplicações como biomateriais, utilizados na fabricação de implantes ortopédicos. MÉTODO: Foram analisados doze implantes removidos de pacientes afetados por quadro inflamatório. As análises químicas foram desenvolvidas pelas técnicas Espectrometria de Emissão Ótica e Microanálise por Dispersão de Energia (EDS) e o tamanho de grão foi determinado por microscopia ótica e Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV) conforme norma ASTM E 1382 97. RESULTADOS: Observou-se que, todos os implantes apresentavam tamanho de grão superior ao recomendado pela norma, constatou-se também a presença de ferrita delta em dez dos doze implantes removidos, que de acordo com a norma ASTM F138-92 não deveriam ser percebidas microscopicamente com um aumento de 100 vezes. CONCLUSÕES: Em oito casos existe forte indicação de que as inflamações foram desencadeadas pela corrosão por pite. Nivel de Evidência III, Revisão sistemática de Estudos .

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the chemical and metallographic composition (microstructure, grain size, inclusion content) of austenitic stainless steel developed as biomaterials for used in the manufacture of orthopedic implants. METHOD: An analysis was carried out of twelve implants removed from patients affected by inflammation. Chemical analyses were carried out using Optical Emission Spectrometry and Energy Dispersive Microanalysis (EDS), and the grain size was determined by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) according to ASTM Standard E 1382 97. RESULTS: It was observed that all the implants had a larger grain size than is recommended by the Standard. The presence of delta ferrite was also observed in ten of the twelve implants removed, which according to ASTM Standard F138-92, should not be perceived microscopically under magnification of 100x. CONCLUSIONS: In eight cases, there is a strong indication that the inflammation was triggered by pitting corrosion. Level of Evidence: Level III, Systematic review of studies.