Application of Coating Techniques to Niobium-Containing Steels Processed by Additive Manufacturing

• Grant number: 25/05962-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Manufacturing Processes
• Principal Investigator: Kahl Dick Zilnyk
• Grantee: Luciana Rocha Gouveia dos Santos
• Host Institution: Divisão de Engenharia Mecânica (IEM). Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA). Ministério da Defesa (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/06984-6 - Development of the additive manufacturing production chain of metal components, AP.NPOP

Abstract

Stainless steel 17-4 PH, also known as ASTM 630 or UNS S17400, is a low-carbon martensitic alloy widely used in the aerospace, aeronautical, marine, automotive, and nuclear sectors due to its combination of high corrosion resistance, high yield strength, and good ductility. This alloy is particularly suitable for additive manufacturing (AM) processes, making it one of the most commonly used materials in this technology.Additive manufacturing offers greater design freedom compared to traditional manufacturing methods, allowing for a reduction in the number of components in an assembly, simplifying assembly processes, and enabling tool repair. However, the differences between AM and conventional processes result in distinct surface finishes, which can impact the final properties of the product, especially the material's fatigue resistance.One approach to enhancing the properties of 17-4 PH steel is the application of coating techniques such as physical vapor deposition (PVD) and plasma nitriding. Thus, the objective is to evaluate the variation of physical vapor deposition (PVD) parameters for titanium nitride on conventional stainless steel to determine the optimal conditions for adapting them to additively manufactured parts, which exhibit variations in porosity, roughness distribution, and residual stresses.Furthermore, the study aims to analyze the parameters for plasma nitrocarburizing and apply them to both conventional and additively manufactured parts. The components will be examined using optical microscopy to assess coating adhesion and thickness, as well as through Vickers hardness testing, adhesion tests, and abrasion tests. (AU)