Influence of Gas Mixture Ratio on Wear and Corrosion Properties of Oxynitrided Films for 316L (03Kh17N14M3) Austenitic Stainless Steel

The structure, phase composition, wear resistance, and electrochemical behaviors of oxynitride films on the surface of austenitic 316L stainless steel substrates formed via plasma oxynitriding using gas mixtures of different compositions are studied. Plasma oxynitriding is carried out at a temperature of 425 °C for 2 h at various ratios of the gas mixtures, i.e., 25% O2 – 75% N2, 50% O2 – 50% N2, 75% O2 – 25% N2. The structure of the coatings is studied by scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction. The wear resistance of the films is evaluated by sliding an alumina ball under dry conditions and in an SBF environment simulating body fluid conditions. The corrosion resistance of the films is determined in the SBF medium. It is shown that the formation of the S (111) and S (200) phase layer upon oxynitriding of steel 316L increases its wear and corrosion resistances. The films formed during the treatment at the gas ratio of 75% O2 – 25% N2, have the highest properties. © 2023, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.