Effect of Sandblasting and Surface Mechanical Attrition Treatment on Surface Roughness, Wettability, and Microhardness Distribution of AISI 316L

Abstract

Surface roughness and wettability determines the stability of bone-implant integration. Stable implants can be found in those with a rough and hydrophilic surface. Sandblasting and surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT) are among the current techniques to obtain surface with such typical properties. In addition, both treatments increase mechanical strength of metal through surface grains refinement. In this paper, the effect of sandblasting and SMAT on surface roughness, wettability, and microhardness distribution of AISI 316L is discussed. All treatments were conducted for 0-20 minutes. The result shows a rougher and a more hydrophilic surface on the sandblasted samples rather than on those with SMAT. A harder surface is yielded by both treatments, but the SMAT produces a thicker hardened layer.