Hydrogen Effects on Fracture Toughness of Additively Manufactured Type 304L Stainless Steel

Abstract

Rectangular blocks of Type 304L stainless steel were additively manufactured (AM) using the directed energy deposition process. These samples were characterized using tensile, fracture toughness, fractography, and metallography and compared to forged Type 304L steel. The AM materials exhibited high density, tensile properties consistent with mechanically deformed stainless steel, and acceptable fracture toughness properties (> 100 Mpam) in the as fabricated and hydrogen charged (approximately 2500 appm) conditions.