TY - CONF A1 - Suarez Ocano, Patricia T1 - Influence of heat-treatment-induced microstructural evolution on the Low Cycle Fatigue behavior of 316L stainless steel fabricated by Laser Powder Bed Fusion N2 - Additive manufacturing, particularly the laser powder bed fusion (PBF-LB/M) process, has gained significant attention in recent years due to its ability to produce complex geometries with enhanced mechanical properties. Among the various materials used, 316L stainless steel is highly favored for cyclically loaded components due to its exceptional mechanical strength, high-temperature performance, and corrosion resistance, making it widely applicable across various industries. 316L SS fabricated by PBF-LB/M (PBF-LB/M/316L) exhibits a unique hierarchical microstructure, with high density of low-angle grain boundaries (LAGBs), nano-dispersed silicates, chemical micro-segregations, and solidification-induced cellular structures. Particularly, the submicron-sized cellular features enriched with chromium (Cr) and molybdenum (Mo), along with high dislocation densities, contribute to a superior strength-ductility balance compared to conventionally manufactured 316L SS. The dispersed silicate particles act also as a strengthening phase, impeding dislocation movement and enhancing plastic deformation resistance. This study explores the effect of heat treatments on the low-cycle fatigue (LCF) behavior of PBF-LB/M/316L at room temperature (RT) and 600 °C. First, three heat treatment conditions were applied to the as-built material: 450 °C for 4 hours (HT450/4), 800 °C for 3 hours (HT800/3), and 900 °C for 1 hour (HT900/1) to investigate their influence on microstructural evolution. Microstructural analysis revealed that the HT450/4 condition preserved the cellular structure with high dislocation density, while the HT800/3 condition showed partial dissolution of cells together with reduction in segregated elements along the cell walls and a reduced dislocation density. The HT900/1 condition resulted in complete segregation and cellular structure dissolution with comparable dislocation density to HT800/3 while maintaining the crystallographic texture and grain morphology. Intermetallic χ phase was mostly observed at the grain boundaries in HT800/3, but not in HT900/1. Fully reversed LCF tests were conducted under strain-controlled conditions with a strain amplitude of 0.8 %. Tests were interrupted at specific intervals to analyze the interaction between hierarchical microstructural features and deformation mechanisms in the three heat-treated conditions. Due to the pronounced dislocation cell structures and elemental segregation, the microstructure of the HT450/4 condition significantly impact deformation and damage mechanisms during cyclic loading, which in turn, differ from the conventional produced counterparts. The results provide insights into the relationship between microstructural features and fatigue performance, highlighting key deformation and failure mechanisms under cyclic loading. T2 - FEMS 2025 EUROMAT 18th European Congress and Exhibition on Advanced Materials and Processes CY - Granada, Spain DA - 14.09.2025 KW - Additive manufacturing KW - 316L stainless steel KW - Heat treatments KW - Low Cycle Fatigue KW - Microstructure PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64238 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Suarez Ocano, Patricia T1 - Exploring the impact of heat treatment on room and high temperature strength of 316L stainless steel fabricated by PBF-LB N2 - Laser Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB/M) enables the fabrication of 316L stainless steel components with superior strength and intricate geometries. The alloy PBF-LB/M/316L features a fully austenitic microstructure with hierarchical characteristics— such as fine dislocation structures, segregated elements, low-angle grain boundaries, and nano-dispersed silicates—that enhance strength and ductility. Additionally, it includes metallurgical defects and residual stresses. Apart from process control, heat treatments (HTs) are used to tailor the microstructure for specific loading conditions. This study investigate the effects of post-processing HTs on the hierarchical microstructure and tensile properties of PBF-LB/M/316L at room and high temperature. The heat treatments, ranging from 400 °C to 900 °C for 1 to 4 hours, focus on sub-recrystallization temperatures to preserve the microstructural hierarchy. The HTs applied had minimal impact on the grain shape, size, or texture of PBF-LB/M/316L. However, significant modifications occurred in the solidification cellular substructure after HTs at 800 °C and 900 °C, when compared to a heat-treated condition at 450 °C. HTs at 800 °C notably decreased dislocation density and enlarged cellular structures, though they remained partially intact. After 1 hour at 900 °C, the cellular substructure dissipated, correlating with a further reduction in dislocation density. These microstructural changes resulted in a decreased yield strength and increased work hardening capacity at both room and high temperature, highlighting the critical link between HT parameters, microstructural evolution, and mechanical performance. T2 - The 20th International Conference on Strength of Materials (ICSMA 20) CY - Kyoto, Japan DA - 02.06.2025 KW - Additive manufacturing KW - 316L stainless steel KW - Heat treatments KW - Tensile properties KW - Microstructure PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63914 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -