3D printing of one of the strongest stainless steels

Researchers have developed a method to consistently produce a special type of stainless steel (17-4 PH) using additive manufacturing.

The use of 3D printing technologies for steel and other alloys has long been a challenge. This is due to the rapid temperature changes caused by laser irradiation during the printing process. These abrupt changes affect the atomic structure of the material and make it difficult to achieve the desired toughness of the 17-4 PH steel.

By using intense X-rays, the scientists were able to observe these rapid structural changes in real time. Based on these observations, they adjusted the chemical composition of the steel to compensate for the negative effects of the temperature changes. The result is a more resistant end product that meets the high demands placed on 17-4 PH stainless steel.

17-4 PH stainless steel is known for its high strength and corrosion resistance. These properties make it indispensable in industrial sectors such as mechanical engineering, shipbuilding, aviation and medical technology. The new findings will enable manufacturers to produce 17-4 PH parts more cost-efficiently and increase flexibility in production. In addition, the applied method could also be used for other materials to improve their properties and performance in 3D printing.

Monitoring the 3D printing process of 17-4 PH stainless steel was made possible by the intense X-ray beams at Argonne National Laboratory’s Advanced Photon Source (APS). The researchers used high-energy X-ray diffraction to capture images of the material structure every few milliseconds during heating and cooling. These detailed images allowed the team to map the correlation between the process parameters and the changes in crystal structure. They then used this analysis to control the alloy development and optimize the printing process.

With this development, the additive manufacturing of 17-4 PH stainless steel is on the verge of a significant advance that could have a major impact on industrial production.