SCC behaviour of laser powder bed fused 316L stainless steel in high-temperature water at 288 °C

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behaviour of laser powder bed fused stainless steel 316L was evaluated with U-bend testing in oxygenated high-temperature water at 288 °C. The effects of solution annealing temperature (1066, 1150 and 1200 °C), surface finish (as-built and wire cut) and the sample orientations on the SCC behaviour were studied. The results show that a higher annealing temperature introduces further recrystallization, coarsening of the oxide inclusions and a decrease in resistance to SCC. A wire cut surface leads to a higher susceptibility to SCC than the as-built surface. Sample orientation was found not to affect the SCC susceptibility