HEAT TREATMENT EFFECT ON MARAGING STEEL MANUFACTURED BY LASER POWDER BED FUSION TECHNOLOGY: MICROSTRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) is a widespread additive manufacturing technology in industrial applications, for metal components manufacturing. Maraging steel special class of Fe-Ni alloys, typically used the aerospace and tooling sectors due to their good combination mechanical strength toughness. This work analyses heat treatment effect on microstructure hardness value 300-grade maraging manufactured by L-PBF process. The considered consists solution annealing followed quenching ageing hardening treatment. temperature reported, wide range. Results show that fully dissolves solidification structure caused Moreover, has significant impact hardness, hence strength, steel. optimal conditions are identified reported: particular, results 583 HV achieved following at 490 °C 6 hours. A higher leads over-ageing resulting decrease hardness. Conversely, an excessive time does not seem affect value, °C.