Study of Ce-modified antibacterial 316L stainless steel.

316L stainless steel is widely used for fashion jewelry, but it can carry a large number of bacteria and bring the risk of infection since the steel has no antimicrobial performance. In this paper, the effects of Ce on the antibacterial property, corrosion resistance and processability of 316L were studied by microscopic observation, thinfilm adhering quantitative bacteriostasis, and electrochemical and mechanical tests. The results show that a trace of Ce can distribute uniformly in the matrix of 316L and slightly improve its corrosion resistance in artificial sweat. With an increase in Ce content, the Ce is prone to form clustering, which degrades the corrosion resistance and the processability. The Ce-containing 316L exhibits Hormesis effect against S. aureus. A small Ce addition stimulates the growth of S. aureus. As the Ce content increases, the modified 316L exhibits an improved antibacterial efficacy. The more Ce is added, the better antibacterial capability is achieved. Overall, if the 316L is modified with Ce alone, it is difficult to obtain the optimal combination of corrosion resistance, antibacterial performance and processability. In spite of that, 0.15 wt.%-0.20 wt.% Ce around is inferred to be the best trade-off. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]