The electrochemical behavior of ISO 5832-9 stainless steel at 37 oC in 0.9% NaCl, Ringer Lactate and minimum essential medium (MEM) has been studied, using linear voltammetry, and surface analysis by SEM and EDS. Mechanical and toxicity tests were made. ISO 5832-9 is passivated at corrosion potential (Ecorr) and it does not present pitting corrosion on the media studied from Ecorr to 50 mV above the transpassivation potential (Ei). SEM and EDS analysis have shown that the sample previously immersed in MEM presents a different behavior at 50 mV above Ei: the manganese oxide inclusions are absent in the surface. Ecorr values and passivation current density values jpass changed according to the following. Ecorr, RL < Ecorr,NaCl < Ecorr, MEM and jMEM << jRL ≅ jNaCl. The stainless steel was characterized as non toxic in the cytotoxicity assay.
ISO 5832-9 stainless steel; orthopedic implant; corrosion; physiological medium
