Study of Cu-rich phase precipitation in austenitic antibacterial stainless steel

Cu precipitation behaviors in two Cu-bearing austenitic antibacterial stainless steels,type 304 and type 317L,were systematically studied by using relatively simple methods for materials analysis,including micro-hardness,electrical resistivity,electrochemical impedance spectroscopy,X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry.The results indicated that after aging at elevated temperature,the micro-hardness, electrical resistivity,electrochemical impedance and lattice constant of the steel were all varied at different degrees due to the precipitation and growth of Cu-rich phases.The results also showed that the heat evolution during the process of Cu precipitation could be sensitively detected by means of differential scanning calorimetry,obtainning the starting temperature,peak temperature,peak area of the Cu-rich precipitation,and even the activation energy by calculation.The results confirmed that the Cu-rich phased precipitation in the Cu-bearing austenitic antibacterial stainless steel should be a thermal activation process controlled by Cu diffusion.All the materials analysis methods used in this study can be more simple and effective for application in R & D of the Cu-bearing antibacterial stainless steels.

Cu Ions Dissolution from Cu-bearing Antibacterial Stainless Steel

This work addressed the antibacterial mechanism of copper ions dissolved from the Cu-bearing antibacterial stainless steel in the bacterial solution by electrochemical measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS）.Experimental results showed that the antibacterial rate reached over 99.9% only when the reaction time between the antibacterial stainless steel and Escherichia coli （E.coli） lasted for 9 h,and the antibacterial stainless steel was more susceptible to the corrosion in the bacterial solution,which was attributed to more copper ions dissolved from surface of the steel contacted with the bacteria,a crucial reason leading to death of the bacteria.

Effects of Nitrogen Concentration on Microstructure and Antibacterial Property of Copper-Bearing Austenite Stainless Steels

Austenite antibacterial stainless steels have been found to have wide applications in hospitals and food industries. In recent years epsilon copper precipitation in antibacterial stainless steels has obtained much research interest due to its antibacterial action. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of nitrogen concentration on the precipitation of epsilon copper and antibacterial property. Two kinds of austenite antibacterial stainless steels containing copper and different nitrogen concentration （0.02 and 0.08 wt pct, respectively） were prepared and the microstructures were characterized by a combination of electron microscopy and thermodynamic analysis. A mathematical expression was deduced to predict the effect of nitrogen concentration on the activity coefficient of copper, In（fCu/f^0cu）=0.53524＋4.11xN-0.48x^2N. Higher nitrogen was found to increase the free energy difference of copper concentration distribution between precipitation phase and austenite matrix, stimulate the aggregation of copper atoms from austenite, increase the precipitation amount and consequently enhance the antibacterial property of steel.

Surface segregation of copper in antibacterial ferritic stainless steel

By using auger electron spectroscopy （AES） and diffusion theory to analyze the surface segregation of copper in antibacterial ferritic stainless steel, establishing a diffusion model, and calculating the activation energy of diffusion of the copper in ferrite, the affect of surface segregation on the antibacterial capabilities were researched. The results show that the concentration of the copper surface at 973 K and 1 073 K could be expressed asln X^sCu/X^bCu = k0 √Dt/d（-△Hv^Cu＋△Hf^tron＋ △Hs^Cu）/3RT , with the parameters relating to the concentration of the diffusion layer, the coefficient of diffusion, the length of diffusion, the latent heat of evaporation and the latent heat of fusion. The activation energy of diffusion of copper in ferrite is approximately 221. 688 kJ/mol. The antibacterial property of the steel is improved as the surface segregation of the copper is increased. At 1 073 K for 60 min, the concentration of the surface copper is over three times higher than the basic concentration. The antibacterial property of the stainless steel can reach approximately 99.9%.

EFFECTS OF COPPER ION IMPLANTATION ON ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF AISI420 STAINLESS STEEL

Antibacterial activity of AISI420 stainless steel (SS) implanted by copper was investigated. Ions extracted from a metal vapor vacuum arc (MEVVA) are sourced with 100keV energy and a dose range from 0.2×1017 to 2.0×1017ions·cm-2. The saturation dose of Cu implantation in AISI420 SS and Cu surface concentration were calculated at the energy of 100keV. The effect of dose on the antibacterial activity was analyzed. Results of antibacterial test show that the saturation dose is the optimum implantation dose for best antibacterial activity, which is above 99% against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Novel phases such as Fe4Cu3 and Cu9.9Fe0.1 were found in the implanted layer by glancing angle X-ray diffraction (GXRD). The antibacterial activity of AISI420 SS attributes to Cu-contained phase.

Study of Ce-modified antibacterial 316L stainless steel

316L stainless steel is widely used for fashion jewelry, but it can carry a large number of bacteria and bring the risk of infection since the steel has no antimicrobial performance. In this paper, the effects of Ce on the antibacterial property, corrosion resistance and processability of 316L were studied by microscopic observation, thin- film adhering quantitative bacteriostasis, and electrochemical and mechanical tests. The results show that a trace of Ce can distribute uniformly in the matrix of 316L and slightly improve its corrosion resistance in artificial sweat. With an increase in Ce content, the Ce is prone to form clustering, which degrades the corrosion resistance and the processability. The Ce-containing 316L exhibits Hormesis effect against S. aureus. A small Ce addition stimulates the growth of S. aureus. As the Ce content increases, the modified 316L exhibits an improved antibacterial efficacy. The more Ce is added, the better antibacterial capability is achieved. Overall, if the 316L is modified with Ce alone, it is difficult to obtain the optimal combination of corrosion resistance, antibacterial performance and processability. In spite of that, 0.15 wt.%-0.20 wt.% Ce around is inferred to be the best trade-off.

Antibacterial Performance of a Cu-bearing Stainless Steel against Microorganisms in Tap Water

Tap water is one of the most commonly used water resources in our daily life. However, the increasing water contamination and the health risk caused by pathogenic bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli have attracted more attention. The mutualism of different pathogenic bacteria may diminish antibacterial effect of antibacterial agents. It was found that materials used for making pipe and tap played one of the most important roles in promoting bacterial growth. This paper is to report the performance of an innovative type 304 Cu-bearing stainless steel(304Cu SS) against microbes in tap water. The investigation methodologies involved were means of heterotrophic plate count, contact angle measurements, scanning electron microscopy for observing the cell and subtract surface morphology,atomic absorption spectrometry for copper ions release study, and confocal laser scanning microscopy used for examining live/dead bacteria on normal 304 stainless steel and 304 Cu SS. It was found that the surface free energy varied after being immersed in tap water with polar component and Cu ions release.The results showed 304 Cu SS could effectively kill most of the planktonic bacteria(max 95.9% antibacterial rate), and consequently inhibit bacterial biofilms formation on the surface, contributing to the reduction of pathogenic risk to the surrounding environments.

Effect of Cu Addition to 2205 Duplex Stainless Steel on the Resistance against Pitting Corrosion by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm

The effect of copper addition to 2205 duplex stainless steel（DSS） on its resistance against pitting corrosion by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm was investigated using electrochemical and surface analysis techniques. Cu addition decreased the general corrosion resistance, resulting in a higher general corrosion rate in the sterile medium. Because DSS usually has a very small general corrosion rate, its pitting corrosion resistance is far more important. In this work, it was shown that 2205-3%Cu DSS exhibited a much higher pitting corrosion resistance against the P. aeruginosa biofilm compared with the 2205 DSS control, characterized by no significant change in the pitting potential and critical pitting temperature（CPT） values. The strong pitting resistance ability of 2205-3%Cu DSS could be attributed to the copper-rich phases on the surface and the release of copper ions, providing a strong antibacterial ability that inhibited the attachment and growth of the corrosive P. aeruginosa biofilm.

Antibacterial metals and alloys for potential biomedical implants

Metals and alloys,including stainless steel,titanium and its alloys,cobalt alloys,and other metals and alloys have been widely used clinically as implant materials,but implant-related infection or inflammation is still one of the main causes of implantation failure.The bacterial infection or inflammation that seriously threatens human health has already become a worldwide complaint.Antibacterial metals and alloys recently have attracted wide attention for their long-term stable antibacterial ability,good mechanical properties and good biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo.In this review,common antibacterial alloying elements,antibacterial standards and testing methods were introduced.Recent developments in the design and manufacturing of antibacterial metal alloys containing various antibacterial agents were described in detail,including antibacterial stainless steel,antibacterial titanium alloy,antibacterial zinc and alloy,antibacterial magnesium and alloy,antibacterial cobalt alloy,and other antibacterial metals and alloys.Researches on the antibacterial properties,mechanical properties,corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of antibacterial metals and alloys have been summarized in detail for the first time.It is hoped that this review could help researchers understand the development of antibacterial alloys in a timely manner,thereby could promote the development of antibacterial metal alloys and the clinical application.