Experimental Investigation on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Sintered 316 Stainless Steel Specimen for Bio Implants

Abstract

This project focuses on the experimental investigation of microstructural and mechanical behavior of sintered stainless steel 316 (SS316) under various processing and compositional conditions. SS316 metal powder with 99% purity and a particle size range of 30–45 microns were utilized in both advanced and conventional sintering techniques. The first phase involved Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) at 950°C, with a pressure of 40 MPa and a dwell time of 10 minutes, producing dense and compact specimens. In the second phase, the metal powder was sintered using a conventional furnace after cold pressing at 10 kg/cm². Corrosion testing was conducted for 7 days in distilled water, seawater, and sodium hydroxide solutions to study degradation behavior. In the third phase, SS316 powder was reinforced with ceramic and non-metallic additives such as alumina, zirconia, hydroxyapatite, and silicon in different weight ratios (25–30%), followed by sintering in a muffle furnace at 900°C. This research aims to compare the microstructure, corrosion resistance, and mechanical performance of pure and reinforced SS316 under different sintering environments, offering insights into material selection for biomedical, structural, and corrosion resistant applications.