Precise control of microstructure and mechanical properties of additively manufactured steels using elemental carbon powder

Abstract The development of new materials for Additive Manufacturing (AM), especially for Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), is essential to reveal the full potential of AM-processed metallic components. The application of powder blends represents a promising pathway for flexible adjustment of the chemistry of the raw material and thus, enables rapid alloy development for AM. This work demonstrates the possibility of precisely adjusting the C-content in Fe-Mn-C austenitic steel using blends of C and pre-alloyed X30Mn22 powders. Electron probe micro analysis (EPMA) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) were used to investigate the elemental distribution, microstructure and the occurring deformation mechanisms of the as-built and deformed specimen. The results were correlated with the tensile properties. It was found that the applied approach enables reliable adjustment of the C-content and thus, of the microstructure and mechanical properties.