Bio-functional and anti-corrosive 3D printing 316L stainless steel fabricated by selective laser melting

• Published in: Materials & design Vol. 152; pp. 88 - 101
• Main Authors: Kong, Decheng, Ni, Xiaoqing, Dong, Chaofang, Lei, Xiaowei, Zhang, Liang, Man, Cheng, Yao, Jizheng, Cheng, Xuequn, Li, Xiaogang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15-08-2018
• Subjects: 316L stainless steel; 3D printing; Bio-compatibility; Corrosion; Selective laser melting; Transmission electron microscopy; Transmission electron microscopy; 316L stainless steel; Selective laser melting; Corrosion; 3D printing; Bio-compatibility
• ISSN: 0264-1275; 1873-4197
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2018.04.058

Fine gas-atomized powders were prepared for fabricating 316L stainless steel by selective laser melting (SLM) for medical implant applications. The effect of 3D printing laser power on the microstructure, biocompatibility, mechanical and corrosion properties of SLM 316L were systematically investigated and compared with the traditionally quenched. The SLM 316L showed irregular grains with many sub-grains and a thicker passive film with lower Mo content than the quenched 316L. SLM 316L formed at high laser power showed improved elongation, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility, while that prepared at low power showed poorer performance and was unstable during long-term experiments in simulated body fluid.
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•Selective laser melted 316L stainless steels were prepared under different laser powers.•High-power formed 316L deserved better elongation, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility.•Thicker passive film with less Mo content was formed on selective laser melted 316L than on the quenched 316L.