Cyclic behaviour and microstructural evolution of metastable austenitic stainless steel 304L produced by laser powder bed fusion

journal article in Web of Science

en

It has been documented that the hierarchical character of microstructure produced by laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) is the key to superior mechanical properties. Especially important is a fine cell microstructure possessing heterogeneous distribution of dislocation density and alloying elements. Despite multiple studies that have investigated the effect of such L-PBF structure on the stress-strain response during monotonic loading, just a few investigations were devoted to cyclic behaviour. The present study delivers an insight into the cyclic behaviour of L-PBF processed metastable austenitic stainless steel 304L and its relation to the observed microstructure evo-lution and strain-induced martensitic transformation (SIMT). The combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations, and feritscope measurements enabled to follow the onset of strain-induced martensite (SIM) nucleation and underlying dislocation microstructure evolution. The cyclic behaviour consisted of initial cyclic softening regardless of subjected strain amplitude. Afterwards, milder cyclic softening or saturation stage followed until a final failure was characteristic for the tests held at low strain amplitudes (e(a) = 0.5%). The third fatigue life stage, cyclic hardening, was recorded during fatigue tests held at e(a) > 0.5%. The excellent cyclic strength of stainless steel 304L is a direct consequence of cell microstructure containing high dislocation density walls and elemental microsegregation, which effectively inhibit dislocation motion. Cyclic softening was linked with cyclic strain localization into slip bands of decreased dislocation density and heavily altered dislocation cell walls. These bands have been observed for the first time in L-PBF-processed metals. This microstructural feature seems to be a variant of persistent slip bands (PSBs), a typical dislocation arrangement observed in conventionally produced materials subjected to cyclic loading. PSBs present the areas of intensive cyclic plasticity where the SIMT preferentially occurs upon further cycling. The increasing a'-martensite volume fraction, accompanied by a formation of intermediate e-martensite and deformation twinning, resulted in recorded cyclic hardening. The martensite nucleation sites are strongly determined by the underlying cell microstructure, in terms of cell walls dislocation density and chemical segregation, which is tightly related to utilized L-PBF process parameters. The present findings indicate a possible opportunity to control the magnitude of the SIMT susceptibility by fine-tuning of the L-PBF process parameters and conse-quently tailoring the cyclic behaviour.

It has been documented that the hierarchical character of microstructure produced by laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) is the key to superior mechanical properties. Especially important is a fine cell microstructure possessing heterogeneous distribution of dislocation density and alloying elements. Despite multiple studies that have investigated the effect of such L-PBF structure on the stress-strain response during monotonic loading, just a few investigations were devoted to cyclic behaviour. The present study delivers an insight into the cyclic behaviour of L-PBF processed metastable austenitic stainless steel 304L and its relation to the observed microstructure evo-lution and strain-induced martensitic transformation (SIMT). The combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations, and feritscope measurements enabled to follow the onset of strain-induced martensite (SIM) nucleation and underlying dislocation microstructure evolution. The cyclic behaviour consisted of initial cyclic softening regardless of subjected strain amplitude. Afterwards, milder cyclic softening or saturation stage followed until a final failure was characteristic for the tests held at low strain amplitudes (e(a) = 0.5%). The third fatigue life stage, cyclic hardening, was recorded during fatigue tests held at e(a) > 0.5%. The excellent cyclic strength of stainless steel 304L is a direct consequence of cell microstructure containing high dislocation density walls and elemental microsegregation, which effectively inhibit dislocation motion. Cyclic softening was linked with cyclic strain localization into slip bands of decreased dislocation density and heavily altered dislocation cell walls. These bands have been observed for the first time in L-PBF-processed metals. This microstructural feature seems to be a variant of persistent slip bands (PSBs), a typical dislocation arrangement observed in conventionally produced materials subjected to cyclic loading. PSBs present the areas of intensive cyclic plasticity where the SIMT preferentially occurs upon further cycling. The increasing a'-martensite volume fraction, accompanied by a formation of intermediate e-martensite and deformation twinning, resulted in recorded cyclic hardening. The martensite nucleation sites are strongly determined by the underlying cell microstructure, in terms of cell walls dislocation density and chemical segregation, which is tightly related to utilized L-PBF process parameters. The present findings indicate a possible opportunity to control the magnitude of the SIMT susceptibility by fine-tuning of the L-PBF process parameters and conse-quently tailoring the cyclic behaviour.

Cyclic behaviour; Laser powder bed fusion; Stainless steel; Strain induced phase transformation; Chemical segregation

25.04.2023

Elsevier

AMSTERDAM

2214-8604

68

1

1–14

14