25 μm (diamond paste) and ultrasonically cleaned between each grinding/polishing step for 3 min in acetone. The coupons were then ultrasonically cleaned in acetone and isopropyl alcohol for 7 min, dried with cold nitrogen gas, and positioned in a desiccator (room temperature) for 24 ± 1 h prior to exposure. The cleaning and aging procedure was selected to enable comparison with literature AZD2014 clinical trial data [4], and to allow the growth of a defined surface oxide. Contact angle measurements were made on 2–4 coupons, and X-ray

photoelectron spectroscopy performed on 2 coupons directly after polishing and after aging. The other coupons were put in acid cleaned polypropylene centrifuge tubes to which 4 mL of the respective solution was added (surface area to solution volume ratio of 0.5 cm−1). Four individual coupons were exposed

for each test condition, with one blank solution sample (no coupon added) exposed in parallel. Immersion was conducted at 37 ± 0.5 °C (Stuart platform-rocker incubator, 25 cycles/min of bilinear shaking) in: • 10 mM NaCl (0.584 g/L, Merck, initial pH 5.8), for 10 min (pH decreased to 5.1 ± 0.1) and 24 h (pH increased to 6.0 ± 0.1) In addition, four coupons were exposed at 60 ± 2 °C to 6 M HNO3 (initial pH <0) for 1 h (pH <0), and to 2 M NaOH (initial pH of 13.0) for 2 h (pH unchanged: 13.0). Another four coupons were exposed to 6 M HNO3 (as above), followed by measurement of contact angle. They were then cleaned according to the above procedure (acetone and isopropyl alcohol) and exposed to citric acid for 24 h (final pH 2.3 ± 0.03). After exposure, all coupons were rinsed with ultrapure water (18.2 MΩ cm) for 5 s (if not denoted differently). Subsequently AZD2281 molecular weight (<10 min), they were dried with cold nitrogen gas followed by immediate (<2 h) measurement of contact angle. To ensure accurate trace metal analysis of released iron from the stainless steel in solution all vessels and equipment were acid-cleaned in

10% HNO3 for at least 24 h, rinsed four times in ultrapure water (18.2 MΩ cm), and dried in ambient laboratory air. All chemicals were of analytical grade (p.a.) or puriss p.a. grade (in the case of nitric acid used for solution sample acidification prior to atomic absorption spectroscopy analyses). Static contact angles were determined using a PG-X pocket goniometer (Fibro Systems AB, Sweden). isothipendyl To avoid cross-contamination between the investigated fluids, each fluid had a unique set of tubes and syringes. The contact angle was measured after a 3–20 s delay, and after another 5–15 s delay between each drop. Individual static contact angle measurements were performed twice for each coupon and fluid. Between two and five coupons were measured for each exposure condition. Contact angle data is presented as average values and standard deviation between all coupons for each exposure condition (between 4 and 10 single measurements), or for single coupons (2 single measurements), as indicated in figures and tables.