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The effects of recrystallisation on the fatigue and corrosion properties of LB-PBF stainless steel 316L
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David Penney ,
Robert Lancaster
Materials and Design, Volume: 264
Swansea University Authors:
Charlie Bevan, AMAR MALLA, James Sullivan , David Penney , Robert Lancaster
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© 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CC BY license.
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DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.matdes.2026.115768
Abstract
This study investigates the influence of post-build heat treatments (HTs) on the microstructural evolution, mechanical performance, and corrosion resistance of laser beam powder bed fusion (LB-PBF) stainless steel 316 L. Samples built in vertical and horizontal orientations were subjected to three H...
| Published in: | Materials and Design |
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| ISSN: | 0264-1275 |
| Published: |
Elsevier BV
2026
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71568 |
| Abstract: |
This study investigates the influence of post-build heat treatments (HTs) on the microstructural evolution, mechanical performance, and corrosion resistance of laser beam powder bed fusion (LB-PBF) stainless steel 316 L. Samples built in vertical and horizontal orientations were subjected to three HT conditions (1050, 1150, and 1200 °C), enabling analysis of recrystallisation behaviour, grain morphology, and the mitigation of anisotropy. Tensile, low-cycle fatigue (LCF), and fatigue crack growth (FCG) testing revealed that full recrystallisation occurred at ≥ 1150 °C, reducing orientation-dependent discrepancies in strength and ductility. Despite improved isotropy, LCF testing demonstrated residual anisotropy, with samples built in the vertical orientation consistently outperforming those built in the horizontal orientation. Samples heat treated at 1050 °C retained a fine, columnar grain structure, resulting in superior resistance to crack growth due to increased yield strength and grain boundary density. In contrast, samples heat treated at 1150 and 1200 °C exhibited coarser, equiaxed grains with diminished fatigue crack resistance. Cyclic polarisation testing showed recrystallisation at the higher temperatures induced positive changes in corrosion performance, substantially increasing pitting potential compared to un-recrystallised microstructures, as found at 1050 °C. The findings highlight the trade-offs between strength, ductility, and fatigue resistance as a function of microstructure, offering insight into optimising HT protocols for LB-PBF SS316L components in fatigue-critical applications. |
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| Keywords: |
Stainless steel 316L; Laser beam powder bed fusion; Recrystallisation; Mechanical properties; Corrosion resistance |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
The current research was exclusively funded by Rolls-Royce plc. |