Sandvik medical steel

Citation

(2002), "Sandvik medical steel", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 49 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2002.12849cad.002

Sandvik medical steel

Sandvik medical steel

Keywords: Stainless steel, Corrosion resistance

Sandvik's Bioline High-N (high nitrogen) stainless steel for use in orthopaedic implants is thought to represent a breakthrough in the production of a steel which meets or exceeds all international specifications for micro-cleanliness and other properties but is also extremely cost-competitive.

High nitrogen stainless steel is reportedly regarded by the industry as the material of choice for cemented hip prostheses. It claims high purity, better corrosion resistance and a much higher yield and fatigue strength than conventional stainless steels (Plate 1).

Sandvik informs us that most hip stems are produced by hot forging, which results in a fully softened microstructure in the metal. The company asserts that, in the annealed condition, Bioline High-N exhibits a yield strength more than twice that of standard stainless grade 316LVM. Work hardening, induced by cold working the material, is said to result in an increase in yield strength. In Sandvik's opinion it is predominantly this property in combination with improved corrosion resistance that makes High-N type steels the material of choice.

Following the launch of Sandvik Bioline High-N, JRI Ltd, the UK specialists in the manufacture of hip and knee replacement prostheses, has chosen the new steel for an additional range of Furlong Modular Hip Replacement Systems.

Plate 1 Hip stem produced by JRI from Sandvik Steel's Bioline High-N stainless steel

JRI is promoting the new addition to its clinically proven modular systems as offering exceptional value. It retains the time-proven femoral stem geometry of the original Furlong Straight Stem design for reproducible, good results.

Details available from: Sandvik Metinox. Tel : +44 (0)114 263 3100; Fax : +44 (0)114 263 3111; Internet: www.steel.sandvik.com