08. Affect of Post-Fabrication Treatment on 3D-Printed Stainless Steels

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Most current metal production is dependent on the limitations of traditional manufacturing machinery. Traditional metal manufacturing generally limits designs, produces excessive waste, and requires lengthy processing times. Additive manufacturing allows a new era of designs to become reality by offering greater material integrity at reduced processing times and costs. In medicinal settings, 316L stainless steels (SS) are used due to the following: favorable corrosion properties, low cost, high durability, and reliability. Fabrication conditions and post-fabrication treatments of 3D-printed SS affect corrosion properties of the material. In this study, 316L SS samples were 3D printed using a 100 W laser power at 800 mm/s scan speed. One sample set was corrosion tested in simulated body fluid as received, whereas the other sample set was polished and chemically etched before testing. Polarization resistance, cyclic polarization, and impedance response comparisons were carried out to evaluate the corrosion behavior of the samples. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal imaging was collected to observe resulting surface conditions, such as pitting due to corrosion. The goal of this work was to evaluate the role of post-fabrication treatment on corrosion behavior in 3D printed 316L SS exposed to simulated body fluid and investigate: 1) pitting initiation and cessation, 2) the consistency and quality of the passive layer, and 3) repassivation kinetics. This study’s breadth will broaden the knowledge base of corrosion testing in simulated body fluid (SBF), which will grant greater understanding of corrosion behavior of 3D printed 316L stainless steel within biomedical applications.