Electrochemistry of AISI 316L stainless steel in calcium phosphate and protein solutions

The influence of calcium phosphate and serum on the corrosion resistance of AISI 316L stainless steel in 0.9% NaCl solution was investigated. Both substances are responsible for an increase in the pitting corrosion resistance. Calcium phosphate accelerates the rate of film formation, enhances the release of iron and nickel, and retards that of chromium from a corroding surface. Proteins induce the incorporation of phosphorus and calcium in corrosion products. These effects appear to replicate the accumulation of the same elements observed on stainless steels corrodedin vivo.