Impact of Cu and Ce on the electrochemical, antibacterial, and wear properties of 316 L stainless steel: Insights for biomedical applications

This study provides a comprehensive investigation of the tribological, electrochemical, and antibacterial characteristics of austenitic stainless steel, type 316 L, doped with Ce and Cu. The samples were doped with varying concentrations of Ce (0.5, 1.5, and 3 wt%) and Cu (1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 wt%). The initial measurements focused on determining the final density values of each sample. Subsequently, friction wear tests were conducted under both dry and wet conditions, shedding light on the wear resistance of the materials. In addition, electrochemical polarization tests were employed to assess the influence of Ce and Cu on the corrosion resistance of AISI 316 L. Furthermore, antibacterial assessments were conducted against bacterial cultures of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). The findings of this study illuminate several noteworthy outcomes. Namely, the results showed that all Ce and Cu -doped samples exhibited an increase in final density values when compared with the as -received AISI 316 L. The wear test results revealed that samples doped with 0.5 wt% Ce and 2.5 wt% Cu exhibited the highest wear resistance, in both dry and wet environments. Polarization curve analysis indicated that Ce was more effective in enhancing the corrosion resistance of AISI 316 L than Cu. Notably, Ce and Cu modifications endowed the material with antibacterial properties, effectively inhibiting bacterial growth in both S. aureus and E. coli cultures. In summary, this study demonstrates that the addition of even trace amounts of Ce and Cu to AISI 316 L leads to noticeable improvements in the material's tribological, electrochemical, and antibacterial performance, underscoring its potential for diverse biomedical applications. The enhanced mechanical strength, corrosion resistance, and antibacterial activity make the doped material promising for use in various medical devices, implants, and other biomedical applications.