Corrosion of Cr–Ni–Mo steel implants electrically stimulated

The paper presents investigation results of the influence of various methods of a bone union electrical stimulation on the corrosion progress of implants from the AISI 316 L steel, coated with the passive and passive-diamond layers. The electrical stimulation was carried out for 28 days in the Tyrode's physiological solution at the temperature of 36.6 ± 1 °C, of the pH changing in the 7.6–8.6 range. Direct, pulsating and sinusoidal currents were used for the electrical stimulation. Mass reductions of implants and corrosion damages developed on their surfaces were evaluated for the particular methods of electrical stimulation. Moreover, are presented the investigation of the implants’ corrosion products infiltration, resulting from the stimulation of a bone union with the direct electrical current using the invasive method. The infiltration degree of the corrosion products was evaluated using the X-ray microprobe analyzer.