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Microstructural and heat treatment analysis of 316L elaborated by SLM additive manufacturing process

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Abstract

Metal additive manufacturing is an emerging advanced technology, it differs from conventional manufacturing methods as machining, casting, and forging, which are either subtractive or forming. Firstly, the objective of this work is to elaborate a new 316L stainless steel material by selective laser melting (SLM) from metallic powder according to specific operating parameters, namely laser scanning speed and power. Secondly, the characterization of this developed material by 3D printing is carried out. For this purpose, metallographic observations and heat treatments at different temperatures 650, 800, and 1050 °C were performed. Thus, the contribution of this study is to develop procedure and tools to enhance their mechanical properties at the level of parts obtained by conventional processes. Therefore, samples were examined by X-RF, SEM, EDS mapping, density, and hardness measurements as well. The results show that mechanical properties of additive manufactured samples can be improved in certain conditions linked to operating parameters and heat treatment. Also, this work has allowed us to confirm the resistance of the 316L stainless steel developed by SLM to high temperatures.

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Abbreviations

AM:

Additive manufacturing

CAD:

Computer-aided design

DMLS:

Direct metal laser sintering

EDS:

Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy

ED :

Deposited energy (J/mm3)

HV:

Vickers hardness

Pi:

Laser power (W)

SEM:

Scanning electron microscope

SLS:

Selective laser sintering

SLM:

Selective laser melting

Ti:

Heat treating temperature (°C)

Vj:

Laser scanning speed (mm/s)

XR-F:

X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy

d:

Powder bed thickness (50 μm)

h:

Hatch space (120 µm)

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Acknowledgements

The authors greatly acknowledged the help and equipment support from Moulay Ismail University and Euromed University of Fez in Morocco.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SECNDCM-L2MC, ENSAM-Meknes, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes city, Morocco

    Kaoutar Fri, Abdellah Laazizi, Mouad Bensada, Mohammed El Alami, Abdelmalek Ouannou & Mostapha El Jai

  2. Euromed Polytechnic School, Euromed Center of Research, Euromed University of Fez, Fez, Morocco

    Iatimad Akhrif & Mostapha El Jai

  3. Ecole Centrale Nantes, Institute of Research in Civil and Mechanical Engineering (UMR CNRS 6183), Saint-Nazaire, University of Nantes, Nantes, France

    Jamal Fajoui

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  1. Kaoutar Fri
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by all of them. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Kaoutar Fri (PhD student), and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Abdellah Laazizi.

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Fri, K., Laazizi, A., Bensada, M. et al. Microstructural and heat treatment analysis of 316L elaborated by SLM additive manufacturing process. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 124, 2289–2297 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-022-10622-4

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