Nuclear corrosion monitoring- : NCM-applied to biomaterials

Nuclear corrosion technique has been developed for the assay of various heavy metals released through corrosion and abrasion into electrolytes from various biomaterials like amalgams, chromium- cobalt and gold alloys, steel, and titanium. Application of the technique in measurement of selective release rates under static or dynamic conditions, i.e., during cyclic loading, is discussed. The elements chromium, cobalt, copper, gold, iron, mercury, molybdenum, silver, titanium, and zinc have been quantitatively assessed. In vivo corrosion measurements are further included. By combining the present nuclear tracer technique with ESCA technique, knowledge about reaction mechanisms occurring at the interface solid/liquid is obtained. Exposure of humans to various heavy metals from biomaterials, e.g., dental materials, can be estimated using the NCM technique. The technique also has a potential for selective release measurements of several nuclides possessing suitable radioanalytical properties from other types of alloys immersed in various liquid environments.