REVIEW ON IMPLANT MATERIALS

The selection of materials for medical applications is usually based on considerations of biocompatibility. When metals and alloys are considered, the susceptibility of the material to corrosion and the effect the corrosion has on the tissue are the central aspects of biocompatibility. Corrosion resistance of the currently used 316L stainless steel, cobalt-chromium, and titanium-based implant alloys. When a metal implant is placed in the human body, it becomes surrounded by a layer of fibrous tissue of a thickness that is proportional to the amount and toxicity of the dissolution products and to the amount of motion between the implant and the adjacent tissues. Superior fracture and fatigue resistance have made metals the materials of choice for traditional load-bearing applications. In this review, the functionality of currently used metals and alloys is discussed with respect to applications.