Influence of FeNiMnSiB master alloy on the structure and mechanical properties of P/M AISI 316L

In this study, the microstructure, phase composition, amount of solidified eutectic phase and mechanical properties of sintered AISI 316L with various additions of FeNiMnSiB master alloy were investigated. The appropriate amounts of this master alloy were added to AISI 316L stainless steel produced by powder metallurgy to introduce precisely 0.1, 0.2, 03, and 0.4 wt of boron. The results were compared with the sinters modified with elemental boron. The results of this study indicate that the addition of FeNiMnSiB master alloy significantly increases the mechanical properties in a way that is strictly related with the evolution of the microstructure. Besides microstructure -coarsening, two opposite effects were observed: the creation of necks among neighboring grains and the formation of a network of borides surrounding the grains. Both effects influence the tensile properties significantly. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.