Influence of Heat Treatment Parameters on the Microstructure of 17-4 PH Single Tracks Fabricated by Direct Energy Deposition
Source abstract
Abstract
Post-fabrication heat treatment (PFHT) is one of the most applied strategies for achieving the desired microstructure and mechanical resistance on additive manufactured components because of the non-equilibrium microstructural state of the material in the as-built condition. In particular, during PFHT, 17-4 PH martensitic stainless steel is mainly strengthened by the precipitation of Cu-rich nanometric particles and Nb carbides into the metal matrix. In this work, the influence of specifically designed PFHTs on the microstructural and mechanical properties of 17-4 PH single tracks fabricated via direct energy deposition was studied. Different solubilization and aging times, as well as a direct aging strategy, were considered. Optical microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate the microstructure evolution induced by the PFHTs. Moreover, Vickers microhardness measurements were performed to evaluate the increase in mechanical strength. In all cases, the heat-treated single tracks showed a mean microhardness higher than that of the depositions in the as-built condition. In the single tracks subjected to solution treatment, followed by aging for about 100 h, the presence of both Cu-rich precipitates and Nb carbides was assessed; conversely, when directly aged from the as-built condition, only Nb carbides were detected. In the latter case, the carbides were finer and closer to each other than those in the single tracks aged after the solution treatment.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Additive Manufacturing Materials and Processes · High Entropy Alloys Studies · Metal Alloys Wear and Properties
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Department of Engineering (DE), University of Ferrara, Via Saragat 1, 44122 Ferrara, Italy
Department of Civil Engineering, Architecture, Land, Environment and of Mathematics (DICATAM), University of Brescia, Via Branze 43, 25123 Brescia, Italy
CNR-IMM, Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems, Via P. Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy
Funding
Birex Corporation
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