Metal ion release from electric guitar strings in artificial sweat

The aim of this study was to monitor the dissolution of metal ions from electric guitar strings. For characterization of investigated strings, two independent methods of analysis were chosen: ICP-OES and AAS. Electric guitar strings consisted of two separate parts: Sn-plated steel core wire which was hexagonal in cross section and Ni-plated steel wrap which was round in cross section. Dissolution of Ni2+, Mn2+, Si4+, Sn2+ and Fe3+ ions from electric guitar strings E6 was measured as a function of time in artificial sweat solution, at temperature of 37 °C according to the EN 1811:1999 standard test procedure. The determination of the amount of the metal ions released in the corrosive solutions was carried out by means of inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The mechanism of metal ions eluted in artificial sweat is discussed. The concentrations of dissolved metal ions in corrosive solution are ranked in the following order: Fe3+> Sn2+> Mn2+> Si4+> Ni2+. Among all investigated metal ions, nickel is far the most allergenic. Since the amounts of the eluted Ni2+ did not exceed 0.5  g cm-2 week-1, the investigated electric guitar strings should not induce contact dermatitis.