Degradation of 316L stainless steel sternal wire by steam sterilization.
Sterilization is an important step prior to the implantation of medical devices inside the human body. In this work we studied the influence of steam sterilization cycles on the oxide film properties of stainless steel sternal wire. Characterization techniques such as open- circuit potential, potentiodynamic measurement, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cathodic stripping, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were employed to investigate the cycles of steam sterilization on the corrosion behavior of sternal wire. The results showed that the oxide properties are a function of the number of steam sterilization cycles and deteriorate as the number of cycles increases. Steam sterilization might damage the implant integrity and heavy metals could be released to the surrounding tissues due to deterioration of the oxide film.
Shih
Chun-Che
CC
Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan. ccshih@vghtpe.gov.tw
Su
Yea-Yang
YY
Chen
Lung-Ching
LC
Shih
Chun-Ming
CM
Lin
Shing-Jong
SJ
D001864:Bone Wires; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013193:Stainless Steel / Q000737:chemistry*; D013227:Steam; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods*; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*
D013227:Steam; D013193:Stainless Steel