Welding of additively and conventionally manufactured 316 L stainless steel

This work explores the potential of using additively manufactured components as replacement parts in repair procedures, with particular emphasis on their integration through welding techniques. The focus is on understanding how these additively manufactured components can be effectively welded into existing structures, ensuring their durability and performance in repair applications. A 316L stainless steel plate produced by additive manufacturing using bound metal deposition was joined to a conventionally rolled plate using the fluxcored arc welding technique to create square groove weld butt joints. An analysis was conducted on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the weldment. The finding indicates that complete joint penetration was achieved in welds without significant welding defects. Microhardness measurements showed values of 132 HV in the additive manufactured base metal and up to 170 HV in the fusion zone. The transverse tensile test results showed that the tensile strength of the welded plates varied between 490 and 547 MPa with an elongation of 26 %, indicating ductile fractures in the weld metal. This demonstrates that additively manufactured parts can be successfully welded to conventionally rolled plates, highlighting their good weldability and supporting their feasibility for repair or replacement through welding.