Nitriding Behaviour and Microstructure of High-Nitrogen Stainless Steel during Selective Laser Melting

High-nitrogen stainless steels are widely used due to their excellent comprehensive performance. In this study, the effects of process parameters (laser power, scanning speed, and cavity pressure) on the formation of high-nitrogen stainless steels were studied by using conventional selective laser m...

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Main Authors: Xin Sun, Jianbiao Ren, Yachao Wang, Dingguo Zhao, Shuhuan Wang, Xiaojing Xiong, Jeremy Heng Rao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-03-01
Series:Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/6/2505
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author Xin Sun
Jianbiao Ren
Yachao Wang
Dingguo Zhao
Shuhuan Wang
Xiaojing Xiong
Jeremy Heng Rao
author_facet Xin Sun
Jianbiao Ren
Yachao Wang
Dingguo Zhao
Shuhuan Wang
Xiaojing Xiong
Jeremy Heng Rao
author_sort Xin Sun
collection DOAJ
description High-nitrogen stainless steels are widely used due to their excellent comprehensive performance. In this study, the effects of process parameters (laser power, scanning speed, and cavity pressure) on the formation of high-nitrogen stainless steels were studied by using conventional selective laser melting and high-pressure selective laser melting (HPSLM). The nitrogen content, nitrogen emission, phase composition, microstructure, and microhardness of the high-nitrogen stainless steel samples obtained through selective laser melting (SLM) were analysed by using an oxygen/nitrogen/hydrogen analyser, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and electron backscatter diffraction. The results showed that the maximum nitrogen emission in the SLM sample was 0.175 wt.%, the emission rate reached up to 54.7%, and the maximum nitrogen content in the HPSLM sample was 1.07 wt.%. There was no significant difference between the phase peak positions of the SLM samples with different laser powers and the original powder. The main phase of the HPSLM sample changed at 0.3 MPa (from α-Fe to γ-Fe phase); the microstructure of the SLM sample was mainly composed of columnar and cellular crystals, and columnar crystal bands formed along the direction of heat flow. The HPSLM sample was mainly composed of equiaxed crystals with a grain size of 10–15 μm. At an energy density of 136 J/mm<sup>3</sup>, the microhardness and relative density reached their peak values of 409 HV and 98.85%, respectively.
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spelling doaj.art-b398b6c77bcd4066b7d7da0a858895432023-11-17T12:23:14ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442023-03-01166250510.3390/ma16062505Nitriding Behaviour and Microstructure of High-Nitrogen Stainless Steel during Selective Laser MeltingXin Sun0Jianbiao Ren1Yachao Wang2Dingguo Zhao3Shuhuan Wang4Xiaojing Xiong5Jeremy Heng Rao6School of Metallurgy and Energy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063009, ChinaSchool of Metallurgy and Energy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063009, ChinaSchool of Metallurgy and Energy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063009, ChinaSchool of Metallurgy and Energy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063009, ChinaSchool of Metallurgy and Energy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063009, ChinaJi Hua Laboratory, Institute of Advanced Additive Manufacturing, Foshan 528200, ChinaJi Hua Laboratory, Institute of Advanced Additive Manufacturing, Foshan 528200, ChinaHigh-nitrogen stainless steels are widely used due to their excellent comprehensive performance. In this study, the effects of process parameters (laser power, scanning speed, and cavity pressure) on the formation of high-nitrogen stainless steels were studied by using conventional selective laser melting and high-pressure selective laser melting (HPSLM). The nitrogen content, nitrogen emission, phase composition, microstructure, and microhardness of the high-nitrogen stainless steel samples obtained through selective laser melting (SLM) were analysed by using an oxygen/nitrogen/hydrogen analyser, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and electron backscatter diffraction. The results showed that the maximum nitrogen emission in the SLM sample was 0.175 wt.%, the emission rate reached up to 54.7%, and the maximum nitrogen content in the HPSLM sample was 1.07 wt.%. There was no significant difference between the phase peak positions of the SLM samples with different laser powers and the original powder. The main phase of the HPSLM sample changed at 0.3 MPa (from α-Fe to γ-Fe phase); the microstructure of the SLM sample was mainly composed of columnar and cellular crystals, and columnar crystal bands formed along the direction of heat flow. The HPSLM sample was mainly composed of equiaxed crystals with a grain size of 10–15 μm. At an energy density of 136 J/mm<sup>3</sup>, the microhardness and relative density reached their peak values of 409 HV and 98.85%, respectively.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/6/2505high-nitrogen stainless steelselective laser meltingnitrogen contentmicrostructuremicrohardness
spellingShingle Xin Sun
Jianbiao Ren
Yachao Wang
Dingguo Zhao
Shuhuan Wang
Xiaojing Xiong
Jeremy Heng Rao
Nitriding Behaviour and Microstructure of High-Nitrogen Stainless Steel during Selective Laser Melting
Materials
high-nitrogen stainless steel
selective laser melting
nitrogen content
microstructure
microhardness
title Nitriding Behaviour and Microstructure of High-Nitrogen Stainless Steel during Selective Laser Melting
title_full Nitriding Behaviour and Microstructure of High-Nitrogen Stainless Steel during Selective Laser Melting
title_fullStr Nitriding Behaviour and Microstructure of High-Nitrogen Stainless Steel during Selective Laser Melting
title_full_unstemmed Nitriding Behaviour and Microstructure of High-Nitrogen Stainless Steel during Selective Laser Melting
title_short Nitriding Behaviour and Microstructure of High-Nitrogen Stainless Steel during Selective Laser Melting
title_sort nitriding behaviour and microstructure of high nitrogen stainless steel during selective laser melting
topic high-nitrogen stainless steel
selective laser melting
nitrogen content
microstructure
microhardness
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/6/2505
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