The DLC Coating on 316L Stainless Steel Stochastic Voronoi Tessellation Structures Obtained by Binder Jetting Additive Manufacturing for Potential Biomedical Applications

The DLC coating of samples produced by additive manufacturing with complex shapes is a challenge but also shows the possibility of obtaining a diffusive barrier for biomedical applications. In this study, stochastic porous structures based on Voronoi tessellation were fabricated using binder jetting technology from 316L SS powder and modified using DLC coating. The DLC coating was deposited using the RF PACVD technology. The chamber pressure was 40 Pa with a methane gas flow rate of 60 sccm. The negative bias voltage was 700 V. The deposition time was 5 min. Dimensional analysis was performed using optical microscopy. Surface morphology and topography were evaluated using SEM and confocal microscopy. Raman spectroscopy was used to examine the chemical structure of DLC coating. Finally, the HR TEM was used to evaluate the physicochemical characterization of the DLC coating. The interconnected complex spatial network of the Voronoi structure was accurately duplicated by the binder jetting technology. The obtained substrates were characterized by high roughness (Ra = 6.43 mu m). Moreover, the results indicated that the conditions of the RF PACVD process allow for the deposition of the continuous and tightened DLC coating with a thickness from 30 nm to 230 nm and defined the content of Cr2O3 and SiO2.

Automated summary

This study fabricated stochastic porous structures based on Voronoi tessellation using binder jetting technology and modified them with DLC coating. The conditions of the RF PACVD process allowed for the deposition of continuous and tightened DLC coatings, as confirmed by various characterizations and analyses.