Additive manufacturing and mechanical properties of martensite/austenite functionally graded materials by laser engineered net shaping
Chi Zhang, Yang Liu, Jiaqi Lu, Like Xu, Yaojun Lin, Pingan Chen, Sheng Qiang, Fei Chen
Abstract
Laser engineered net shaping (LENS) is an advanced additive manufacturing technology combining rapid prototyping and synchronization technology. Its multi-powder feeder delivery system enables multi-materials building in single deposition, which is appropriate for additive manufacturing of functionally graded materials (FGMs). In this study, martensitic-stainless steel (MSS)/austenitic stainless steel (ASS) FGMs with composition transitioning from 100% MSS incrementally graded to 100% ASS by 25% composition gradients are fabricated by LENS. The Vickers hardness of MSS/ASS FGMs ranges from 358 to 170 HV. The decrease of hardness is found to relate to the grain-growth region with the increase of austenite. The obtained specimens of MSS/ASS FGMs show a tensile strength of 669 MPa and an elongation of 19%. In addition, the fracture location of MSS/ASS FGMs in tensile test is in the region of 100% ASS, which is dominated by austenite structure. Finally, the Scheil–Gulliver model is introduced to validate the phase formation of MSS/ASS FGMs’ failure region. Experimental and modeling results indicate that precipitation of α-ferrite in the austenite structure leads to reduced ductility of MSS/ASS FGMs.