Comparison of the effect of heat treatment parameters on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 3D printed and conventionally produced H11 steel – POSTER

Fialová Pavlína - West University of Bohemia (Czech Republic)

Medium carbon tool steel for hot work H11 was printed using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF – laser powder bed fusion). To eliminate internal stress and improve mechanical properties, the additively manufactured H11 steel was subsequently subjected to various heat treatment regimes. The same heat treatment was also used for the reference conventionally produced steel H11 (cold rolled and annealed). For both materials, microstructural analyses, tensile testing and HV 10 hardness measurements were performed. Conventionally produced steel had a low initial strength (600 MPa) and high ductility (41%) compared to the 3D printed steel, which reached over 1500 MPa of tensile strength after printing, and the ductility was only 5%. After heat treatment, conventional steel always had higher strength and ductility than 3D-printed steel. By combining hardening and two-step tempering at a temperature of 550°C, 3D printed steel obtained a strength of 2030 MPa and an elongation of 4%. Conventionally produced steel reached a strength of 2100 MPa and a ductility of 14% after the same heat treatment.

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