Effects of heat treatment through muffle furnace or microwave on microstructure and corrosion behavior of 316L stainless steel produced by selective laser melting

The SLM-manufactured 316L stainless steel was independently subjected to conventional muffle furnace or microwave heat treatment under different heat temperatures (600 or 900°C) and soaking time (30 or 60 min). Under the heat treatment at 600°C for 60 min, melt pools were observed in 316L stainless steel heat-treated using a conventional furnace, while these defects were eliminated in the microwave-treated 316L stainless steel. The SLM-manufactured 316L stainless steel after microwave heat treatment at 600°C for 60 min had a high corrosion potential (− 0.268 V) and a low passivation potential (0.124 V) and showed the smoothest surface after the FeCl 3 immersion test. Graphical abstract