Antimicrobiability of Cu Contained Stainless Steels

Abstract

Antimicrobial ability of Cu contained stainless steels was investigated. Antimicrobial ability increased with elute fraction of Cu ion from stainless steel surface into antimicrobial test medium. It is necessary to promote eluting fraction of Cu ion, that is, to achieve giving antimicrobial ability to Cu contained stainless steel that sub-micron order or larger size ε-Cu phases are dispersed in stainless steel, surface of stainless steel has high electrode potential and dissolved oxygen exist in the test medium.