Cutting of 316L Stainless Steel Stents by using Different Methods and Effect of Following Heat Treatment on Their Microstructures

OpenAlex İngilizce

In this study, effect of different cutting methods and following normalization heat treatment on microstructure of 316L stainless steel tubings were investigated.316L stainless steel is the most commonly used material for coronary stent production.Tubings were cut with laser cutting, plasma cutting, oxy-fuel cutting, water jet cutting and electrical discharge machining methods.Cut tubings were characterized by using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).Separate samples were prepared for heat treatment operation.316L stainless tubings were cut with same methods and same parameters.Normalization heat treatment was applied to the samples.Heat treated tubings were characterized by using Scanning Electron Microscope.When results were evaluated, it was seen that laser cutting gives the best results rather than that of other cutting methods in terms of homogeneous microstructure, smoothness of cutting surface, a microstructure without oxidation and distortion etc.