Mechanical and Antibacterial Properties of Copper-added Austenitic Stainless Steel (304L) by MIM

For the austenitic stainless steel (304L) manufactured by metal injection molding(MIM), the effects of copper content and sintering temperature on the mechanical properties, antibacterial activities, corrosion resistance, and electric resistances were investigated. The specimens were prepared by injection molding of the premixed powders of water-atomized 304 L and Cu with poly-acetyl binders. The green compacts were prepared with various copper contents from 0 to 10 wt.% Cu, which were debound thermally at 873 K for 7.2 ks in $N_2$gas atmosphere and subsequently sintered at various temperatures from 1323 K to 1623 K for 7.2 ks in Ar gas atmosphere. The relative density and tensile strength of the sintered compacts showed the minimum values at 5 and 8 wt.% Cu, respectively. Both the relative density and the tensile strength of the specimen with 10 wt.% Cu sintered at 1373 K showed the highest values, higher than those of copper-free specimen. Antibacterial activities investigated by the plastic film contact printing method for bacilli and the quantitative analysis of copper ion dissolved in water increased as the increase of the copper content to stainless steels. It was also verified by the measurement of pitting potential that the copper addition in 304 L could improve the corrosion resistance. Furthermore the electric conductivity increased with the increase of copper content.