Water Atomized 17-4 PH Stainless Steel Powder as a Cheaper Alternative Powder Feedstock for Selective Laser Melting

Water atomized and gas atomized 17-4 PH stainless steel powder were used as feedstock in selective laser melting process. Gas atomized powder revealed single martensitic phase after printing and heat treatment. As-printed water atomized powder contained dual martensitic and austenitic phase. The H900 heat treatment cycle was not effective in enhancing mechanical properties of the water atomized powder after laser melting. However, after solutionizing at 1315 oC and aging at 482oC fully martensitic structure was observed with yield strength of 1000 MPa and ultimate tensile strength of 1261 MPa which are comparable to those of gas atomized, 1254 MPa and 1300 MPa, respectively. Improved mechanical properties in water atomized powder was found to be related to presence of finer martensite. Our results imply that water atomized powder is a promising cheaper feedstock alternative to gas atomized powder.