In Vitro Corrosion Resistance and Antibacterial Performance of Novel Fe--xCu Biomedical Alloys Prepared by Selective Laser Melting.

Antibacterial Fe-- xCu biomedical alloys are designed to have a satisfactory biodegradation rate compared with pure iron. Fe--xCu (x=0, 1.5, 2.3, 7.8, and 10.1 wt%) alloys are produced by selective laser melting (SLM). Alloying with Cu has a significant influence on the grain size, hardness, biodegradation rate, and antibacterial performance of SLMed Fe-xCu alloys. Increasing Cu content decreases the grain size and increases the hardness. SLMed Fe--1.5Cu, Fe--2.3Cu, and Fe--10.1Cu have degradation rates similar to that of pure iron, while the degradation rate of SLMed Fe--7.8Cu is almost 2.5 times faster. The SLMed Fe--2.3Cu, Fe--7.8Cu, and Fe--10.1Cu produce strong antibacterial performance. The mechanisms of degradation behavior and antibacterial performance are clarified. SLMed Fe--7.8Cu had appropriate mechanical properties, satisfactory degradation rates, strong antibacterial performance, and good cytocompatibility, and therefore is a novel type of antibacterial biomedical alloy with good potential for clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]