Microstructural and mechanical properties of AISI 440C stainless steel fabricated using selective laser melting

AISI 440C stainless steel (SS440C) has excellent mechanical properties. However, its industrial application is limited because SS440C cannot be fabricated into different shapes due to its high hardness and low workability. Selective laser melting (SLM) is the most suitable method to increase the workability of SS440C because the SLM process has few restrictions on manufacturing geometry. In order to observe changes in internal porosity according to process conditions, specimens under 36 different process conditions were fabricated by SLM. The changes in microstructure and defect generation mechanism in specimens fabricated under high-density process conditions were analyzed. Phase change and mechanical properties of SS440C were studied under defect free process conditions and compared with those observed by researchers in the past. •Selective laser melting process of SS440C alloy.•Unique microstructural and mechanical characteristics of SS440C fabricated by SLM.•Defect free SLM process condition at 320 W laser power and 598 mm/s scan speed.