Journal of Materials Processing Technology just published our latest study on the Effect of chemically accelerated vibratory finishing on the corrosion behavior of Laser Powder Bed Fusion 316L stainless steel.
Abstract: As-built surface morphology and texture of Additively Manufactured (AM) metal parts reduce their mechanical and corrosion properties. One chemically accelerated vibratory finishing (CAVF) technique employs a chemically-based stepwise process to gradually remove surface roughness without the need for significant manual manipulation. While this procedure is effective at producing smooth surfaces, the corrosion response of the resulting surface is unknown. This study evaluates the effect of this surface finishing technique on the corrosion response and mechanisms of 316L stainless steel fabricated using Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) AM techniques. The results show that the CAVF process does not obviously change the microstructure but imparts residual compressive stresses on the surface which improve the breakdown potential compared to other specimens evaluated. Further, the process removed surface Cr3C2 precipitates formed during heat treatment. CAVF improves surface finish and mechanical properties with an added benefit of enhancing the corrosion response of processed parts.