Thermal stability of the cellular structure of an austenitic alloy after selective laser melting

Abstract

The thermal stability of the cellular structure of an austenitic Fe–17% Cr–12% Ni–2% Mo–1% Mn–0.7% Si–0.02% C alloy produced by selective laser melting in the temperature range 20–1200°C is investigated. Metallographic analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy show that structural changes in the alloy begin at 600-700°C and are fully completed at ~1150°C. Differential scanning calorimetry of the alloy with a cellular structure reveals three exothermic processes occurring upon annealing within the temperature ranges 450–650, 800–1000, and 1050–1200°C