Corrosion and antibacterial performance of 316L stainless steel with copper patterns by super-spread wetting of liquid copper

Abstract

Cu patterns have been fabricated as a sacrificial anode on 316L stainless steel using the super-spread wetting property of liquid copper to simultaneously improve the localized corrosion resistance and antibacterial properties for biomedical applications. The microstructural, corrosion, and antibacterial properties were investigated. In situ observation, combined with electrochemical tests, provided a comprehensive understanding of the corrosion behavior of the Cu-patterned substrate in artificial saliva solution at 37 °C. The results directly showed that the anodic Cu pattern preferential dissolved while the substrate was cathodically protected from localized corrosion in an artificial saliva solution. Cu-patterned stainless steel has an antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis with a log reduction of >5.0 within 24 h (kills 99.999 % of bacteria), respectively, indicating that preferentially released Cu ions also play a key role in the antibacterial properties.