Owing to its high corrosion resistance 316 L steel is widely used in biomedical implants, such as screws and plates. To improve wear resistance in physiological environment, surface treatments are often carried out, and among them low temperature carburizing is one of the most effective. This work optimized a plasma assisted low temperature carburizing treatment made by using a 2.5% CO2 + 97.5% H2 gas mixture. The scope was to promote the formation of the S-phase (expanded austenite) avoiding the formation of a diamond like carbon (DLC) over-layer. Treatments with different duration (30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 minutes) have been investigated with significant hardness increase in all the samples as compared to original material. After 60 minutes the DLC over-layer starts to grow thus this treatment time seems to be the best trade-off for hardening the surface without the formation of DLC that, being hard and brittle, may give rise to debris with detrimental effects on wear resistance.
Surface Characteristics Improvement of 3D Printed 316 L Steel for Biomedical Applications
Lanzutti A.;Sordetti F.;Vaglio E.;
2025-01-01
Abstract
Owing to its high corrosion resistance 316 L steel is widely used in biomedical implants, such as screws and plates. To improve wear resistance in physiological environment, surface treatments are often carried out, and among them low temperature carburizing is one of the most effective. This work optimized a plasma assisted low temperature carburizing treatment made by using a 2.5% CO2 + 97.5% H2 gas mixture. The scope was to promote the formation of the S-phase (expanded austenite) avoiding the formation of a diamond like carbon (DLC) over-layer. Treatments with different duration (30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 minutes) have been investigated with significant hardness increase in all the samples as compared to original material. After 60 minutes the DLC over-layer starts to grow thus this treatment time seems to be the best trade-off for hardening the surface without the formation of DLC that, being hard and brittle, may give rise to debris with detrimental effects on wear resistance.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
