Degradation of metallic implant materials

The interactions between metallic biomedical materials and simulated biological environments are investigated. Of a special interest is the elucidation of the degradation mechanisms, as well as surface modifications of metallic biomaterials. Critical factors of the environment (e.g., pH, temperature) as well as of the material (chemical composition, microstructure, purity grade) on the stability of the passive state as well as on dissolution mechanisms of metallic implant materials (e.g., Ti, Ti alloys, CoCr alloys) are studied by combined electrochemical and surface analytical techniques. Further, growth of hydroxyapatite layers on different biomaterial surfaces are being studied, approaches to use electrochemical techniques to monitor the surface modification in the biological environment are being evaluated, and the influence of the surface modification by Ca-P deposits on the passivity of the materials are being investigated.