Stainless Steels for Implants

Stainless steel has been and continues to be among the most widely used metals for implant applications. Along with Co-Cr alloys, CP titanium and titanium alloys, and expanding use of Ni-Ti alloy (Nitinol), implant-quality austenitic steels find a variety of uses for implants. These alloys are used for orthopedic, dental, and cardiovascular applications. Keywords: stainless steel; corrosion; biocompatibility; composition; microstructure