Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 March 2011
A novel surface modification process is presented, which creates a macroscopically smooth and a nanoscopically rough surface on an austenitic stainless steel. The chemical structure of the oxide layer is changed due to the acid treatment, whereas the thickness is not increased. An altered chromiumoxide content in the passive layer connected with a high bonding strength to the substrate material suggests the use of these wet chemically modified steels in biomedical applications.