Corrosion and Wear Behavior of Selective Laser Melting Inconel 718 Alloy After Solution Treatment

Abstract

This study investigates the corrosion–wear behavior of Inconel 718 produced by Selective Laser Melting (SLM) and solution treated at 980°C. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that solution treatment refined the microstructure, reduced porosity, and improved surface stability, despite a decrease in hardness from 280.32 to 245.36 Hv. In 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, corrosion current density decreased from 9.683 to 1.440 mA/cm2 at +600 mVSCE, while material loss under corrosion–wear dropped from 247 to 98 mg. Increasing the polarization potential raised corrosion rate, friction coefficient, and wear loss. For example, corrosion weight loss rose from 19 to 29 mg, and under corrosion–wear from 11 to 25 mg. Total degradation under combined conditions nearly doubled compared with corrosion alone, indicating a strong synergy between electrochemical and mechanical effects. Overall, solution treatment significantly enhances the corrosion–wear resistance of SLM Inconel 718 and supports its use in marine, aerospace, and energy sectors.