Researchers Produce17-4 PH Stainless Steel Using 3D Printer
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the US Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Advanced Photon Source (APS) at the US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory have found a way to consistently produce 17-4 PH steel, a type of stainless steel with exceptional strength and corrosion resistance, using 3D printing techniques. Their findings have been published in the journal Additive Manufacturing.
To achieve this breakthrough, the researchers used X-ray diffraction technology to monitor and direct the formation of the steel's structure during the printing process. This allowed them to determine its performance and retain all of its high-value characteristics. The PH in 17-4 PH steel stands for precipitation hardening, a heat treatment technique used to make malleable materials stronger. The numbers refer to the alloy's makeup: 17% chromium and 4% nickel. The steel includes nanoparticles that contribute to its signature strength.
Traditionally, producing metal alloys using 3D printing has been challenging, as temperatures change rapidly during the printing process, making it difficult to observe the crystal structure of the atoms within the material. However, using the high-energy X-ray beams produced by the APS, the researchers were able to observe the microstructure development in real-time and make quick adjustments to the printing parameters to obtain the desired microstructure.
The breakthrough could help manufacturers reduce costs and increase flexibility in producing high-performance alloys like titanium alloy and nickel-based superalloy using 3D printing. The researchers believe their results show how user facilities such as the APS can enable the US to have a competitive edge in advancing the next generation of advanced manufacturing technologies.
"We hope our success with this study helps increase the industrial impact of the research coming out of American synchrotron user facilities such as the APS," said Fan Zhang, a physicist at NIST. "If we want to establish American leadership in advanced manufacturing, these facilities are a great asset. Additive manufacturing opens up the design space, allowing us to create complex parts that are often impossible when using conventional technologies. That's the true promise of this breakthrough."