Abstract
The use of parts containing internal channels fabricated by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) in maraging steel is gaining attention within industry, due to the promising application of the material in molds and forming tools. However, LPBF processing has issues when it comes to unsupported channels, leading to defects that can result in a limited performance and shortened component life. The present study aims to provide a detailed evaluation of the metallurgical effects arising from the LPBF printing of channels made of maraging 300 steel. The results show that channel distortion occurs due to the lack of support, associated with increased roughness at the top part of the channel profile caused by partial melting and loosening of the powder. Statistical analyses showed that distortion is significantly affected by channel length. A high level of porosity derived from a lack of fusion was observed in the region above the channel and was attributed to layer irregularities caused by the absence of support, with a predominance of large and irregular pores. Residual stresses, always of a tensile nature, present a behavior opposed to that of distortion, increasing with increases in length, meaning that higher levels of distortion lead to an enhanced effect of stress accommodation/relief, with porosity having a similar effect. All these phenomena, however, did not seem to affect crystallographic orientation, with a nearly random texture in all cases, most likely due to the energy input used and to an optimized laser scanning strategy. These findings are vital to increase the amount of attention paid towards the design of internal channels, especially with those with the purpose of coolant circulation, since distortions and poor surface finishing can reduce cooling efficiency due to a defective fluid flow, while porosity can have the same effect by hindering heat transfer. Residual stress, in its turn, can decrease the life of the component by facilitating cracking and wear.