Electrochemical Behavior of High Nitrogen Ni-Free Austenitic Stainless Steels in L929 Cells and Cell Culture Medium

Abstract

The localized corrosion behavior of high nitrogen Ni-free and Ni-reduced austenitic stainless steels in L929 mouse fibroblasts and cell culture medium (Eagle's minimum essential medium (MEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS)) was evaluated by electrochemical techniques in an electrochemical cell culture corrosion cell. The positive effect of nitrogen alloying was evidenced. The examined high nitrogen Ni-free and Ni-reduced alloys resulted to be immune to pitting corrosion even in the presence of cells. Cell culture studies showed that high nitrogen lotus-type porous Ni-free and Ni-reduced stainless steels were non-cytotoxic to mouse fibroblasts cell line. In this sense, they represent a better alternative to other conventional stainless steels.