Influence of Diamond-Like Carbon and Electroplating Ni-Cr on hardness and surface roughness of implant material AISI 316LN

Abstract AISI 316LN is widely used in biomedical applications, specifically bone implant materials because it is easier to fabricate than titanium alloys and cobalt alloys and has a cheap price. AISI 316LN has lower hardness than titanium alloy and coblate alloy, which causes many material failures. Diamond-like Carbon is a surface treatment that may enhance a material’s mechanical qualities and resistance to corrosion. Because electroplating creates a coating on the surface, it can enhance mechanical qualities and corrosion resistance. The Diamond-like Carbon process is carried out on the AISI 316LN surface with a duration of 1.4 mbar with a coating time of 4 hours and a hardness of 40-50 HRC. In the Ni-Cr electroplating process, the nickel base coating was applied for 15 minutes, and then the Cr coating was applied for 0, 15, 20, 25, and 30 minutes. The results of the research show that the Diamond-Like Carbon treatment increases the roughness after being electroplating, then the roughness decreases with increasing time. The roughness of electroplating increases with increasing electroplating duration. The roughness of the combined Diamond-like Carbon treatment followed by electroplating is higher than the Dimaond-like Carbon or electroplating treatment. The hardness of the Diamond-like Carbon treatment increases with increasing duration time. Electroplating hardness increased up to 20 minutes, then the hardness value decreased with increasing electroplating duration up to 30 minutes. The combined hardness value of Diamond-like Carbon treatment followed by electroplating is the highest. Changes in grain size occur on the surface during the electroplating treatment.