Revealing the microstructural evolution and its influence on mechanical properties of heterostructured steel fabricated by laser melting deposition

Abstract

A series of heterostructured materials with variable ratio of 316 powders in 18Ni300 powders were prepared by laser melting deposition (LMD). The microstructural evolution and its influence on tensile features were explored before/after aging treatment or solution-aging treatment. The results indicated that the fraction of γ phase was increased gradually with increasing 316SS, and dislocation caused by the deformation could be migrated and annihilated within the region of γ phase, second phase strengthening could contribute to excellent elongation for 18Ni300 maraging steel. The elongation of the AF4 sample was 235.2% higher than that of the AF0 sample when a 37.5% reduction in the ultimate tensile strength occurred. In addition, thermal stress could exist in the as-cladded sample, an appropriate heat treatment could release the thermal stress and precipitate nanoscale intermetallic compound. Their synergistic effect could contribute to overcoming the strength-elongation trade-off. A relatively ideal sample, a discontinuous γ phase surrounded by α phase, which displayed high strength of 1678.4 MPa with high elongation of 10.9% after solution-aging treatment. Compared with laser cladded 18Ni300 maraging steel, a 41.7% increment in the elongation was obtained at the cost of 11.3% reduction in ultimate tensile strength.