Abstract 316L stainless steel (316L SS) is a flagship material for structural applications in corrosive environments, having been extensively studied for decades for its favorable balance between mechanical and corrosion properties. More recently, 316L SS has also proven to have excellent printability when parts are produced with additive manufacturing techniques, notably laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). Because of the harsh thermo-mechanical cycles experienced during rapid solidification and cooling, LPBF processing tends to generate unique microstructures. Strong heterogeneities can be found inside grains, including trapped elements, nano-inclusions, and a high density of dislocations that form the so-called cellular structure. Interestingly, LPBF 316L SS not only exhibits better mechanical properties than its conventionally processed counterpart, but it also usually offers much higher resistance to pitting in chloride solutions. Unfortunately, the complexity of the LPBF microstructures, in addition to process-induced defects, such as porosity and surface roughness, have slowed progress toward linking specific microstructural features to corrosion susceptibility and complicated the development of calibrated simulations of pitting phenomena. The first part of this article is dedicated to an in-depth review of the microstructures found in LPBF 316L SS and their potential effects on the corrosion properties, with an emphasis on pitting resistance. The second part offers a perspective of some relevant modeling techniques available to simulate the corrosion of LPBF 316L SS, including current challenges that should be overcome.
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Unraveling Electrochemical Mechanisms in Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation of Cold Spray Additively Manufactured Stainless Steel
Cold spray additive manufacturing (CSAM) has gained significant attention for its rapid solid deposition capabilities. However, the presence of defects such as pores and voids limits its performance, particularly in electrochemical environments. In this study, a novel post-surface treatment, plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO), was applied and investigated as a feasible solution to overcome these defects. Results demonstrated a successful PEO deposition on cold-sprayed 316L stainless steel (SS) due to the rapid formation and discharge of aluminate electrolytes along the surface. However, due to the severely strained and highly crystalline surface, the electric field that allows for the deposition of Al(OH)42 anions was reduced. As consequence, an uneven and rough deposition took place. Nonetheless, a successful Al2O3 film of 12.30 lm thickness was formed. Experimental tests were further conducted in simulated aqueous and biologicalbased solutions to test the electrochemical resistance of the deposit. Results reveal a noticeable enhancement in corrosion resistance for both solutions. This enhancement can be attributed to the ‘‘postponing’’ and ‘‘blocking’’ effect enabled by the Al2O3 film, which prevented the electrolyte solution from penetrating the CS surface. Collectively, these findings suggest that PEO is indeed a promising technique to mitigate the chemical degradation of CSAM’d 316L SS.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1852578
- PAR ID:
- 10535468
- Publisher / Repository:
- ASM International
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance
- ISSN:
- 1059-9495
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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