Study of mechanical properties of AISI 316 stainless steel processed by selective laser melting, following different manufacturing strategies

Considering additive manufacturing (AM) as a field of major interest, this paper is focused on the study of the mechanical properties and their variability with manufacturing orientation (anisotropy) for a metallic alloy manufactured by AM, using the technology of selective laser melting (SLM). This study has been performed on an austenitic stainless steel-AISI 316 L-used for many industrial fields as chemical, cellulose, and medical, among them. Finally, the obtained properties have been analyzed and compared, for this steel, to those properties standardized and tested for wrought products. In this paper, previously published results are complemented, as the mechanical tests have been performed in all the possible directions of manufacturing by SLM and not only in two main directions. High mechanical values have been obtained, especially yield strength (significantly improved, compared with wrought or cast products) while keeping high values of ductility and notch impact resistance. For widespread industrial acceptance, AM parts need to be produced to high tolerances and with well-understood mechanical properties, and the aim of this paper is to contribute to this objective.