Crystallographic texture- and grain boundary density-independent improvement of corrosion resistance in austenitic 316L stainless steel fabricated via laser powder bed fusion

Improvement of corrosion resistance austenitic 316L stainless steel via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is currently a prominent research topic; however, the effects crystallographic texture and related grain boundary density on LPBF-fabricated parts have not been elucidated. For biomedical applications, control from single crystalline-like to randomly oriented polycrystalline microstructure highly attractive for optimizing mechanical properties (particularly Young’s modulus) implants. An investigation impacts planes boundaries exposed biological environment behavior necessary. steels with different textures densities were successfully fabricated LPBF. The resistances specimens comprehensively assessed by anodic polarization, dissolution, crevice repassivation tests. showed extremely high pitting potentials in physiological saline compared commercially available counterparts, importantly, excellent was observed irrespective exposed. Moreover, did show metastable even an accelerated test using acid solution. affected Such drastic improvement might be attributed suppression inclusion coarsening owing rapid cooling rate during solidification By LPBF, desired can introduced based without concern corrosiveness. • LPBF dramatically improved localized steel. Corrosion independent plane. Precipitation growth suppressed within nanometer-size