Co–Cr alloy corrosion behaviour after electropolishing and “magnetoelectropolishing” treatments

Abstract The electrochemical characteristics of L605 alloy, with various surface finishes obtained after electrolytic polishing, were investigated. This Co–Cr alloy has a clinical history in dental and orthopaedic implants and more recently in cardiovascular stent applications, where its high elastic modulus and radiopacity are desirable properties. Radiopaque materials are advantageous as they allow for better visual navigation in minimal invasive implantation procedures. For applications in the human body, surface corrosion resistance is the most important characteristic to evaluate the biocompatibility. Several studies of the corrosion resistance of Co–Cr alloy biomaterials in simulated human body fluids have been reported. The paper presents recent achievements in increasing corrosion resistance of L605 alloy after the process of electrolytic polishing in the presence of a magnetic field (MEP).