The surface treatments documented in this practice are intended to improve the corrosion resistance of metallic surgical implants manufactured from iron, cobalt, titanium, and tantalum base materials.

Iron particles, ceramic media, and other foreign particles may become smeared over or imbedded into the surface of implants during processing operations such as forming, machining, tumbling, bead blasting, and so forth. These particles should be removed to minimize localized rust formation and superficial blemishes.

The various chemical and electrochemical surface treatments specified in this practice are intended to remove objectionable surface contaminants and to restore maximum corrosion resistance to the passive oxide film.

The need for an additional implant surface treatment such as secondary passivation in nitric acid should be evaluated for localized implant surfaces that have electrochemical or laser product markings created after the final surface treatment.

1.1 This practice provides a description of surface characteristics, methods of surface preparation, and methods of marking for metallic surgical implants. Marking nomenclature is not specified in this practice. Surface requirements and marking methods included in the implant specification shall take precedence over requirements listed in this practice, where appropriate.

1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.