Abstract
The present article investigates material parameters that affect performance of the antibacterial properties and the corrosion resistance of the copper and the copper alloys. These parameters include the composition, grain size, galvanic coupling, precipitations and the surface roughness. Experimental results indicate the increased in copper content can increase the bacterial killing rate (BKR %). Galvanic coupling between Cu-stainless steel can enhance the copper ion release so that antibacterial ability can be improved. Smaller grain size renders the material better bacterial killing rate during initial exposure but with poor corrosion resistance. Corson70250 is a precipitation strengthened Cu-Ni-Si alloy, which can be strengthened by the fine precipitation of Ni-Si compounds; these phases can increase the copper matrix to result higher BKR%. Finally, the degree of the surface roughness increased, it had the better antibacterial ability since the contact area increased and the rougher surface had the lower electron work function which have easily tendency to escape the electrons.