An Efficient Approach for Nitrogen Diffusion and Surface Nitriding of Boron-Titanium Modified Stainless Steel Alloy for Biomedical Applications

Austenitic 316L stainless steel has been the most widely acceptable biomaterial for producing implants. The downside of this material includes the leaching of nickel ions from the matrix that limits its’ usage in implant manufacturing. In this research, production of stainless steel alloy modified with boron and titanium is investigated. The sintering of the alloy systems is carried out in nitrogen atmosphere for a dwell time of 8 h. The X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals that dwell time and alloy composition leads to the formation of strong nitrides and borides. The X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) results show the presence of nitrogen on to the surface of sintered specimens. The nitride layer on the surface of the specimens is helpful in the retention of nickel ions in the stainless steel matrix, as indicated in the weight loss measurements. The cytotoxicity assessment indicates that the developed alloys are biocompatible and can be used as implant materials.