The temperature dependent mechanical response of M250 maraging steel and its implications on wire arc additive manufacturing

Wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is becoming increasingly common for large scale additive manufacturing (AM) applications because of its high deposition rate (2-3 kg/hr.). The rapid temperature changes and subsequent evolution of mechanical properties during AM can lead to large distortion and residual stresses. Finite element modeling of the AM process shows promise to minimize part distortion and residual stresses through improved path planning and process parameter optimization. However, accurate material properties of M250 before and after heat treatment are needed to properly characterize the property evolution from annealed to AM, to aged. Due to limited data on annealed M250, this research presents the mechanical response of solution annealed M250 maraging steel. Testing at temperatures up to 900 degrees Celsius and strain rates from quasi-static to 1 s-1 was performed to provide more representative mechanical properties for AM parts and provide a correlation between AM, aged, and annealed M250 maraging steel