Effect of lattice structures on mechanical performance and biocompatibility of SS316L fabricated using bound metal deposition technique
摘要
Demand for orthopedic surgical recovery and oral reconstruction, particularly in bone cancer and tumor resections, is increasing. This demands customized implants that can reduce surgical time compared to conventional mass-produced devices. Additive manufacturing technologies, such as Bound Metal Deposition (BMD), have emerged as an effective solution to meet these needs. This research investigates the effects of infill lattice structure designs, specifically 50%, 75%, and 100% in both open and closed cover configurations on the phase composition, microstructural characteristics, relative density, bending strength, corrosion resistance, and cytotoxicity of stainless steel 316 L (SS316L) produced using the BMD additive manufacturing technique. The findings reveal that a stable phase composition characterized by austenite and δ-ferrite phase was formed after sintering at 1350 °C, with respective mass fractions approximately 80% and 20%, closely mirroring the raw materials used. Despite δ-ferrite concerns, corrosion test results show acceptable rates within the reported biomedical range. According to the microstructural results, the pore and oxide sizes are relatively uniform after the sintering process. Meanwhile, the increase in the filler lattice structure is correlated with the increase in relative density, flexural modulus, and maximum flexural stress. Notably, closed cover configurations exhibit higher mechanical properties compared to their open counterparts. Importantly, neither configuration displayed cytotoxic effects; however, the open configuration promoted greater viability in MC3T3 cells. Thus, the open lattice configuration exhibited slightly higher cell viability, suggesting favorable short-term cytocompatibility. Further long-term in vitro and in vivo studies are required to confirm its potential role in osteointegration for implant applications.