Magnetic, electric properties and hardness of 17-4 PH stainless steel fabricated by selective laser melting

Abstract

This research examines 17-4 PH stainless steel (SS) samples fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM). The samples were built in vertical direction, and it was necessary to load powder three times. This made the process suspended and led to the changes in temperature conditions. Despite a continuity of the samples, the samples were divided into three parts shared by visible interfaces. The samples were examined by optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The XRD data showed variations in phase compositions over the samples height. Magnetic and electric properties, hardness and microhardness of the samples in each parts were determined before and after the heat treatment (650 C for 1 hour, cooling in a furnace). Obtained results show an inhomogeneity of properties over the samples height, but heat treatment led these properties to be uniformly distributed.