Comparison between mechanical properties and structures of a rolled and a 3D-printed stainless steel

In this work selective laser melting was successfully utilized to produce 316 stainless steel bulk specimens. Although this technology provides many advantages compared to conventional shaping processes, little residual porosity may be a problem for some applications where high strength is required. The objective of this work was to determine, through data analysis, a mechanical and metallographic comparison between thin sheets made by using different manufacturing technologies: Cold rolling and additive manufacturing. This comparison was useful to understand whether it could be more advantageous to use the prototyping for new mechanical components. The results show that the additive manufactured steel, due to its microstructure, is characterized by a higher yield strength and by a lower elongation and ultimate tensile strength.