Surface finish, microhardness and microstructure of laser metal deposited 17-4PH stainless steel

Abstract

Laser metal deposition is a metal-based additive manufacturing technology. It is a very sensitive and complex process because of the different process parameters involved and the interrelations between these parameters. A thorough understanding of the underlying physics of the process is essential in developing a comprehensive database of the properties of materials processed with this technology. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of laser power on a laser-deposited 17-4 precipitation hardenable stainless steel alloy. The as-built microstructure, phase composition, microhardness and surface finish were analysed. The results show that a defect-free sample with good metallurgical bonding and minimal dilution can be produced using high laser power in the range 1400–2600 W and a scanning speed of 0.6 m/s. The microstructure in the clad layer was dominated by martensite and an improvement in surface finish and maximum hardness was observed with increased laser power.