SS316L/Al2O3 functionally graded material for potential biomedical applications

The performance of biomedical implants has become increasingly the focus of research in recent years. Func-tionally graded material (FGM) is promisingly effective in improving the performance of implants as they mimic bone structure.316L-FGM has been the subject of numerous biomaterials studies, but SS316L/Al2O3 has not yet been reported as FGM. In this work, we firstly report on the successful fabrication of SS316L/Al2O3 FGM using powder metallurgy technique for biomedical applications. The microstructure, corrosion resistance, and me-chanical and bioactivity properties were investigated. The FGM layers consisted of 316L and three different composites containing 5, 10, and 15 wt % Al2O3. Experimental results revealed that FGM was successfully produced by the powder metallurgy technique without cracks and the hardness of the layers increased with the alumina content. Electrochemical test results showed that samples tested in Ringer's solution were more sus-ceptible to pitting corrosion as compared to tested in Hank's solution. Apatite layer formation was observed in each sample after 7, 14, and 21 days of in vitro bioactivity tests.