Parylene coatings on stainless steel 316L surface for medical applications : mechanical and protective properties

ThemechanicalandprotectivepropertiesofparyleneNandCcoatings(2 – 20 μ m)onstainlesssteel316Limplant materials were investigated. The coatings were characterized by scanning electron and confocal microscopes, microindentation and scratch tests, whereas their protective properties were evaluated in terms of quenching metal ion release from stainless steel to simulated body fl uid (Hanks solution). The obtained results revealed that for parylene C coatings, the critical load for initial cracks is 3 – 5 times higher and the total metal ions release is reduced 3 times more ef fi ciently compared to parylene N. It was thus concluded that parylene C exhibits superior mechanical and protective properties for application as a micrometer coating material for stainless steel implants