Properties of the Diffusion, Nitrocarburised Layer Used for Implants to Chest Deformation Treatment

The paper presents results of physicochemical properties of AISI 316LVM steel with diffusive nitrocarburized layer formed by plasma potential by means of an active screen. Increase of the corrosion resistance, and surface hardness as well, can be obtained by surface treatment. More and more often processes of plasma or gas nitriding, or ion implantation are used. Recently also the process of glow discharge nitrocarburizations is used. The mentioned technology combines the process of low-temperature nitriding and carburization in a low-temperature plasma, in which, next to a mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen, a methane is used. This process enables the production on the austenitic stainless steel a double layer of nitrogen austenite γN and carbon austenite γC. The studies were conducted for the samples of both electrochemical polished and nitrocarburized surfaces, after sterilization, and exposure to the Ringer’s solution. The obtained results showed beneficial increase of electrochemical properties of the deposited layer, and thus the applicability of the proposed method of surface treatment of the 316LVM steel for short-term implants.