Developments in the Study of Biomaterials Degradation

Abstract

Degradation of metallic materials in the body is a process with important clinical consequences and therefore research is being carried out to minimize the release of toxic species. This paper focus on some methods presently available to reduce the release of toxic metal ions and to improve fixation of implants to bone. The need to characterize the in vitro behaviour of new materials and devices has led to the application of electrochemical corrosion testing. Some examples are presented, which show the usefulness of these techniques in providing basic data enabling a reduction in the number of animal tests. Polarization resistance and corrosion potential measurements are useful in predicting the biological tolerance of tissues to metallic implants. Zero-resistance ammetry can be used to study the behaviour of galvanic couples between carbon composites and various common metallic materials. Capacitance measurements account for differences in corrosion behaviour of stainless steel in normal and simulated infected media.