Qualidade do a？o inoxidável martensítico do tipo AISI-420 utilizado na confec？？o de ferramentas cirúrgicas

until now the martensitic stainless steel type aisi-420 is widely used in the manufacture of surgical implements. these implements present premature corrosion problems identified after cleaning, , sterilization and cutting edge loss and/or rupture during the surgical processes. this study evaluates the steel as to the chemical composition, hardness, microstructure and pitting corrosion resistance in a solution of enzyme detergent diluted in water by anodic cyclic polarization. this mixture is used in the cleaning of surgical implements that are submerged in this solution for 2 h before cleaning and sterilization. the results show steels with martensite microstructures in the ferrite phase, together wth impurities. these presented low pitting potential values in compariston to steels with a fully martensitic microstructure.