Abstract

AISI 430 stainless steel is an attractive material to be used in the healthcare industry, particularly as a sensor due to its low cost, corrosion resistance, as well as being Ni-free. AISI 430 was evaluated in an artificial sweat solution with the presence of Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. Surface microbial analyses did not reveal colonization of bacteria on metallic surfaces, even when bacteria adhesion was investigated in a Miieller-Hinton solution. However, by electrochemical techniques, the AISI 430 surfaces demonstrated clear signs of corrosion mainly in a sterile medium after two weeks of exposure.