Development of silver-containing austenite antibacterial stainless steels for biomedical applications Part I: microstructure characteristics,mechanical properties and antibacterial mechanisms |
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| Authors: | Chiung-Fang Huang Hsi-Jen Chiang Wen-Chien Lan Hsin-Hua Chou Chih-Hua Yu |
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| Affiliation: | 1. School of Dentistry, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University , Taipei 110, Taiwan;2. Department of Dentistry , Taipei Medical University Hospital , Taipei 110, Taiwan;3. Research Center for Biomedical Devices , Taipei Medical University , Taipei 110, Taiwan;4. School of Dentistry, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University , Taipei 110, Taiwan;5. Research Center for Biomedical Devices , Taipei Medical University , Taipei 110, Taiwan;6. Dental Department of Wan-Fang Hospital , Taipei Medical University , Taipei 110, Taiwan;7. Research Center for Biomedical Devices , Taipei Medical University , Taipei 110, Taiwan;8. Research Center for Biomedical Implants and Microsurgery Devices, , Taipei Medical University , Taipei 110, Taiwan;9. Biomate Medical Devices Technology Co., Ltd , Kaohsiung 806, Taiwan |
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| Abstract: | The as-quenched (AQ) microstructure of the Ag-containing alloys was found to be essentially a mixture of austenite (γ) and Ag phases. The Ag phase precipitates had a face-centered-cubic structure and lattice parameter a = 4.09 Å. When the alloy contained Ag ≥0.2 wt%, the mechanical properties were slightly enhanced because of the precipitate strengthening by the Ag phase precipitates. Moreover, the Ag-containing alloys exhibited ductile fracture after tensile testing. The results of an antibacterial test revealed that the Ag phase precipitates play a key role in the antibacterial mechanism of Ag-containing alloys: Ag+ ions released from the Ag phase precipitates can kill bacteria. It is suggested that as AISI 316L alloy has an Ag content ≥0.2 wt%, it will have excellent antibacterial properties against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, with an antibacterial rate of nearly 100%. |
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| Keywords: | antibacterial stainless steel Ag phase microstructure mechanical properties antibacterial mechanism Ag+ ion release |
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