Stainless steels in orthopedics

Abstract Since the development of stainless steels over a century ago, they have made significant contributions to the health of humankind. Stainless steels are a family of cost-effective engineering materials with good corrosion resistance and a suitable range of mechanical and physical properties that are applicable to a wide variety of load-bearing implant applications. This chapter provides an overview of the families and grades of stainless steels used for medical applications. The focus is on orthopedic stainless steels and their corresponding wear, corrosion, and mechanical properties. The effects of alloying elements on such properties are discussed at length, and the methods and challenges related to the production of porous and additively manufactured parts are further discussed.