In vitro crevice corrosion behavior of implant materials

The crevice corrosion susceptibility of cold-worked Type 316LVM stainless steel, cast Co-Cr-Mo, wrought Co-Cr-W-Ni, non-nitrided and nitrided Ti-6Al-4V ELI, and c.p. Ti, Grades 1 and 4, was studied in vitro by means of a crevice cell. Occlusion was created by interfacing a disc specimen and a Teflon bar. Specimens were mechanically prepared through 2-4 micron Al2O3 and passivated in 30% HNO3, followed by steam sterilization. Tests were performed in a deaerated Ringer's solution, maintained at pH = 7 and 37 degrees C. Anodic polarization was conducted potentiostatically at pre-selected levels, and resultant currents were monitored: stainless steel, 50 and 100 mV (S.C.E.), 450 min; non-stainless materials, 600 mV, 1000 min. Results for the stainless steel demonstrated that a HNO3 passivation treatment reduced its crevice corrosion susceptibility. For the non-stainless steel materials, no crevice corrosion susceptibility was observed, although a dulling and discoloration of c.p. Ti was evident. Recognizing that 600 mV is in excess of the O2 reduction potential in vivo, it was concluded that, in the absence of fretting, implants of these non-stainless steel materials would not experience significant corrosion loss under crevice conditions.