This is the laboratory’s first scientific publication carried out using the equipment inaugurated in September 2023.

“This recently published work in the Journal of Materials Research and Technology explores the possibility of obtaining duplex stainless steels using the WAAM 3D printing technology, employing ferritic and austenitic steels as starting materials.”

In particular, a stratified stainless steel is successfully fabricated using PA-WAAM (Plasma Arc-Wire Additive Manufacturing), depositing alternating layers of two different stainless steels onto an AISI 316L plate serving as the substrate. The selected materials were the ferritic stainless steel M430 and the austenitic stainless steel M316L. A comprehensive microstructural characterization was conducted using optical microscopy and Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD), providing insights into different areas, including the interfaces between the two distinct materials. The results revealed good weldability between the two-layer steels and the substrate. Additionally, a gradual duplex structure was observed mainly at the interfaces of the layers, suggesting a nuanced blend of properties in the deposited zone. To establish a direct correlation with the mechanical properties in the observed structures, macro and microhardness tests were conducted along the cross-section. These tests revealed the presence of a harder phase along the interface compared to the individual materials. The microstructural analysis corroborated the presence of phase mixing along with some regions of delta ferrite.