Evaluation of Electronic Properties of the Oxide Film on the Laser Marked ASTM F 139 Stainless Steel in Phosphate Buffer Solution with Albumin

摘要

Albumin is the most abundant protein in human serum and sinovial fluid. Although it is commonly used to simulate the physiological environment; there are few studies about the effect of the albumin concentration on the electronic properties of stainless steels passive films. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of albumin on the susceptibility to corrosion of the ASTM F139 austenitic stainless steel used as a biomaterial, specifically at the areas marked by laser for implant traceability. Due to the complexity of the interaction of the protein with the material, it was necessary to use high concentrations of protein, similar to those found in human serum. The effect of albumin was investigated by electrochemical methods in a phosphate buffer solution (PBS) with the addition of 10 g/L of albumin and comparing the corrosion resistance of the material in the same solution without albumin. The Mott-Schottky approach was used to evaluate the electronic properties of ASTM F139 SS oxide layer marked by laser beam. The results showed that the laser marking process affected the electronic properties of the passive film increasing the oxide layer doping densities, and its electronic conductivity. This led to a decreased resistance of the passive film to breakdown.