Study of the wear behavior of AISI 17-4PH stainless steel deposited under L-DED process

Author(s)

Pereira, Juan I. ; Tressia, Gustavo ; Machado, Paulo C. ; Nunez, Johan Grass ; Coelho, Reginaldo T.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY; v. 138, n. 11-12, p. 15-pg., 2025-06-12.

Abstract

Laser Directed Energy Deposition (L-DED) is one of the most promising additive manufacturing techniques, and as such, there has been significant industrial effort to develop processing strategies for various alloys. This study addresses a gap in the literature regarding the tribological performance of L-DED-fabricated AISI 17-4 PH stainless steel (SS), offering insights to support its optimization for engineering applications. The wear behavior of L-DED-processed AISI 17-4 PH SS was analyzed using scratch tests. The material, deposited from gas-atomized powder under optimized parameters (850 W laser power, 6 g/min feed rate, 350 mm/min scan speed, and 30% overlap), was tested on a pearlitic steel substrate, which was also evaluated independently for comparison. At a moderate load (20N), the material exhibited mild abrasive wear with uniform grooves and limited deformation. At 30N, more severe mechanisms such as delamination and micro-cracking were observed, resulting in deeper grooves and greater material displacement. At 40N, the wear mechanism stabilized, with micro-cutting becoming predominant. Microstructural analysis revealed a martensitic matrix with fine copper-rich precipitates and traces of retained austenite and delta ferrite. Although AISI 17-4 PH SS and pearlitic steel showed similar hardness values (similar to 500 HV), their wear mechanisms differed: the stainless steel exhibited abrasive wear with delamination, while the pearlitic steel displayed flaking due to its layered structure. These results suggest that AISI 17-4 PH SS performs well under moderate loads, offering excellent wear resistance. However, increasing stress levels result in surface degradation, indicating the need for additional treatments to enhance hardness and improve wear performance. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/06984-6 - Development of the additive manufacturing production chain of metal components
• Grantee: Mário Boccalini Júnior
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Problem-Oriented Research Centers in São Paulo