| Abstract Scope |
In the literature, there is significant variability in the properties of laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) processed SS316L. This variability has been a challenge for additively manufactured parts, and we will present the origins of variability in the properties of SS316L. Further, we will present results from a systematic design of experiments to understand the effect of different process variables on resulting properties. We show that SS316L can be processed over a wide process window of laser power, speed, and hatch in terms of microstructural stability. However, due to complex solidification pathways in SS316L, a fish-scale morphology was revealed during etching and subsequent high-magnification energy dispersive spectroscopy that is indicative of elemental segregation. While the elemental segregation does not directly impact the texture and tensile strength, it may negatively impact creep, toughness and corrosion resistance of the material during service in harsh conditions.
This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle LLC under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725 with the US Department of Energy (DOE). The US government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for US government purposes. DOE will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan (http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan) |