Mechanical properties of alloy Ti-6Al-4V and of stainless steel 316L processed by selective laser melting: influence of out-of-equilibrium microstructures

Ti-6Al-4V and stainless steel 316L have been processed by selective laser melting under similar conditions, and their microstructures and mechanical behaviours have been compared in details. Under the investigated conditions, Ti-6Al-4V exhibits a more complex behaviour than stainless steel 316L with respect to the occurrence of microstructural and mechanical anisotropy. Moreover, Ti-6Al-4V appears more sensitive to the build-up of internal stresses when compared with stainless steel 316L, whereas stainless steel 316L appears more prone to the formation of 'lack of melting' defects. This correlates nicely with the difference in thermal conductivity between the two materials. Thermal conductivity was shown to increase strongly with increasing temperature and the thermophysical properties appeared to be influenced by variations in the initial metallurgical state.