BioDur® 108 Stainless Steel
At a Glance
| Property | Details |
|---|---|
| Available Forms | Bar and Wire |
| Alloy Type | High-Nitrogen, Low-Nickel Austenitic Stainless Steel |
| Corrosion Resistance | Excellent corrosion resistance for medical and surgical implant applications |
| Hardness | Non-heat-treatable; strengthened through cold working |
| Magnetic Properties | Non-magnetic and suitable for applications where magnetic response is a concern |
| Durability | High strength, toughness, fatigue resistance, and ductility for demanding medical components |
| Key Advantages | Low nickel content, cobalt-free composition, high nitrogen strengthening, non-magnetic behavior, and ASTM F2229 implant suitability |
| Common Applications | Bone plates, bone screws, hip and knee components, orthodontic appliances, surgical instruments, trauma fixation devices, spinal components, and medical wires |
| Specifications | ASTM F2229 |
Introduction to BioDur® 108 Stainless Steel
BioDur® 108 Stainless Steel is a high-nitrogen, low-nickel austenitic stainless steel developed for medical applications requiring strength, toughness, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. It is often selected as an alternative to traditional nickel-containing implant alloys because it is essentially nickel-free and cobalt-free while still offering the mechanical performance needed for demanding medical components.
Unlike martensitic or precipitation-hardening stainless steels, BioDur® 108 is not hardened by heat treatment. Instead, it gains strength through cold working, a process in which the material is shaped or reduced at room temperature. Cold working increases strength while allowing the alloy to maintain good ductility and toughness, making it useful for components that must perform reliably under repeated stress.
One of the most important features of BioDur® 108 is its high nitrogen content. Nitrogen helps improve strength, fatigue resistance, and corrosion resistance without relying on high nickel content. This makes the alloy especially useful for medical products where high strength and reduced nickel exposure are important design considerations.
BioDur® 108 is non-magnetic and offers compatibility with medical imaging environments where magnetic response is a concern. Its low-nickel composition may also be beneficial for applications involving patients with metal sensitivity concerns. For implantable or body-contact applications, material selection should always be confirmed by the device manufacturer and applicable regulatory requirements.
Common medical applications for BioDur® 108 include:
- Bone plates
- Bone screws
- Hip and knee components
- Orthodontic appliances
- High-strength surgical instruments
- Trauma fixation devices
- Spinal components
- Medical wires and formed components
BioDur® 108 is covered by ASTM F2229, the standard specification for wrought, nitrogen-strengthened, low-nickel stainless steel alloy bar and wire for surgical implants. Its combination of low nickel content, high nitrogen strengthening, corrosion resistance, fatigue strength, and non-magnetic behavior makes it a valuable material for medical manufacturers seeking a strong stainless alloy for sensitive and high-performance applications.