Effect of nitrogen on biocorrosion behavior of high nitrogen nickel-free stainless steel in different simulated body fluids

The aim of this research is to study the biocorrosion behavior of high nitrogen nickel-free stainless steel (HNS) with different nitrogen content, also with comparison to AISI 317L, in three different simulated body fluids. The comparison was focused on the influence of nitrogen in HNS and different protein solutions on the passive behavior using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and capacitance measurements (Mott–Schottky approach). The study revealed that HNS possessed thicker and more protective passive films with increase of nitrogen, which could improve the biocorrosion resistance and biocompatibility after implanted. The passive films behaved as n-type semiconductors and showed a decrease in donor density by nitrogen addition, thus indicating more beneficial for haemocompatibility. The electrochemical behavior recorded in the albumin and fibrinogen solutions revealed protein played an important role in the biocorrosion of HNS, which could result in the breakout of passive films and enhance the corrosion rate by means of chelation.

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► We studied the biocorrosion behavior of HNS in three different simulated body fluids.
► The comparison was focused on the influence of nitrogen in HNS and different protein solutions on the passive behavior.
► The biocorrosion resistance was increased with increase of N content in HNS.
► Proteins resulted in the breakout of passive films and enhanced the corrosion rate by chelation.