Effect of stainless steel on corrosion behavior of copper in a copper-bearing intrauterine device.

Some copper-bearing intrauterine devices (Cu-IUDs) consist of pure copper and stainless steel. Corrosion of copper in the Cu-IUD was anticipated to be affected by galvanic action due to electrical contact between these two metals. Electrochemical measurements were carried out in physiological saline with or without indomethacin, which was introduced for bleeding control. In the copper/stainless steel couple, the open-circuit potential of stainless steel was found to play a decisive role. In most cases, when stainless steel was in the passive state and acted as the cathode, the contact accelerated copper corrosion. In addition, the area ratio of stainless steel to copper altered copper corrosion behavior. The larger the area of stainless steel, the greater the acceleration of copper corrosion. It was noted that the stainless steel surface might be activated due to improper handling of the IUD. In this case, copper became the cathode of the couple and its corrosion was suppressed.