Nucleation of corrosion pits in Ringer’s solution containing bovine serum

The effects of the presence of bovine serum on the nucleation of corrosion pits on 316L stainless steel and commercially pure titanium in Ringer’s physiological solution at 37 °C are presented. The experiments involved measurement of current transients generated on microelectrodes under potentiostatic control below the pitting potential. Results show that the presence of the organic components of the serum stimulates the nucleation of pits on 316L stainless steel. A similar but smaller effect is shown for commercially pure titanium.