Effect of partial solution nitriding on mechanical properties and corrosion resistance in a type 316L austenitic stainless steel plate

For improving the properties of the austenitic stainless steel used as commercial osteosynthesis implants and to also reduce the plate thickness, type 316L austenitic stainless steel plates (AISI 316L) were subjected to solution nitriding. The solution nitriding time varied up to 36 ks to change the nitrogen concentration distribution in the steel plates, and then the material properties were investigated to demonstrate the effect of the unsaturated solution nitriding (partial solution nitriding). As a result of tensile testing for the solution-nitrided steel plates, yield strength was almost identical irrespective of the solution nitriding time even in the partially solution-nitrided specimens, while tensile strength was monotonically increased as the solution nitriding time increased and then leveled off at the maximum value when nitrogen absorption was completed. As for corrosion resistance, the solution-nitrided steel plates exhibited excellent pitting corrosion resistance even in the case of partial solution nitriding.