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Paper

Evaluating Heat Treatment Effects on 316 Stainless Steel Fabricated via Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) Technique - CANCELLED (C2026-00345)

CANCELLED
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Lujain Almuhaish, Ahmed K AsseelHussam Attar, Hasan Alhashmy, Mohammed Al-Muaisub
Additive Manufacturing (AM), particularly Powder Bed Fusion (PBF), is rapidly adopting into Oil and Gas Industry by enabling the production of superior design flexibility, complex spear parts, material selectivity and just-in-time inventory. This research work aims to investigate the mechanical and microstructural properties of 3D printed 316 Stainless Steel via Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) using 370W laser power and 900 mm/s scan speed parameters, by comparing as-printed specimens with those subjected to post-process heat treatment. Microstructural characterization was performed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) to examine grain structures, sub-grain boundaries, and retained austenite; whereas, mechanical properties were evaluated through hardness and tensile tests. Results showed that as-printed samples exhibit higher strength and hardness due to rapid solidification and fine cellular microstructures, but reduced ductility as a result of residual stresses. Conversely, post-process heat treatment is expected to relieve internal stresses, promote grain growth, and enhance ductility, with a corresponding reduction in strength and hardness. This work highlights the critical role of post-processing in tailoring the performance of 3D printed stainless steel components, offering valuable insights for optimizing AM parts where reliability and mechanical integrity are paramount.