Abstract
The corrosion of cobalt in aqueous media with and without the presence of the protein serum albumin has been investigated using a number of techniques. The corrosion rate was found to increase significantly in the presence of albumin. Although the effect was related to albumin concentration to a certain extent, there is no equivalence between the metal ions released and the albumin present. It is believed that the effect is due to a catalytic process where the albumin reversibly binds cobalt during the corrosion process. The significance of this phenomenon in the context of the implantation of biomaterials in the human body is discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
D. F. Williams and R. Roaf, “Implants in Surgery” (W. B. Saunders, London, 1973).
D. C. Mears, Int. Metall. Rev. 22 (1977) 119.
D. F. Williams, Ann. Rev. Mater. Sci. 6 (1976) 237.
Idem, “Fundamental Aspects of Biocompatibility” Vol. I (CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1981) p. 11.
T. P. Hoar and D. C. Mears, Proc. Roy. Soc. London, A 244 (1966) 486.
D. F. Williams and G. Meachim, J. Biomed. Mater. Res. Symp. 5 (1973) 1.
A. B. Ferguson, Y. Akohoshi, P. G. Laing and E. S. Hodge, J. Bone Jt. Surg. 44A (1962) 317.
G. Meachim and D. F. Williams, J Biomed. Mater. Res. 7 (1973) 555.
D. F. Williams and D. Adams, J. Clin. Path. 29 (1976) 657.
A. McNamara and D. F. Williams, Eng. Med. 10 (1981) 17.
Idem, Biomaterials 2 (1981) 33.
G. C. F. Clark, A. McNamara and D. F. Williams, Abstract of First World Biomaterials Congress, Vienna, April 1980.
C. P. Sharma, G. C. F. Clark and D. F. Williams, Eng. Med. 10 (1981) 11.
G. C. F. Clark and D. F. Williams, J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 16 (1982), to be published.
H. Dobbs and M. J. Minski, Biomaterials 1 (1980) 193.
G. D. Winter, in “Biocompatibility of Implant Materials”, edited by D. F. Williams (Sector, London, 1976) p. 28.
E. M. Evans, M. A. R. Freeman, A. J. Miller and B. Vernon-Roberts, J. Bone Jt. Surg. 56B (1974) 626.
J. C. Heath, Brit. J. Cancer 14 (1960) 478.
T. Rae, in “Biocompatibility of Implant Materials”, edited by D. F. Williams (Sector, London, 1976) p. 55.
Y. Morin and P. Daniel, Canad. Med. Assoc. J. 97 (1967) 926.
C. F. Bees and R. E. Mesmer, “The Hydrolysis of Cations” (Wiley, New York, 1976) p. 238.
P. C. Allen, E. A. Hill and A. M. Stokes, “Plasma Proteins” (Blackwell, Oxford, 1973) p. 182.
S. M. Weinzierl and M. Webb, Brit. J. Cancer 26 (1972) 279.
K. Georgi, Z. Electrochem. 39 (1933) 213.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Williams, D.F., Clark, G.C.F. The corrosion of pure cobalt in physiological media. J Mater Sci 17, 1675–1682 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00540795
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00540795