Introduction to Metallic Biomaterials

Abstract

After the invention of stainless steel in 1920s, metal implants have experienced vast development and clinical uses. The formation of ASTM Committee F04 on Medical and Surgical Materials and Devices in 1962 has then played important role to their development, practice and standardization. A great variety of corrosion resistant metals have been developed and used for medical implants including the class of 316L stainless steels, cobalt-chromium alloys and titanium and its alloys. New generation of metallic biomaterials have been made nickel free via novel processing including nano-processing and amorphization. Other development raised the concept of biodegradable rather than inert metals where temporary medical implants, that function only during specific period and then degrade, are targeted.