Heat treatment optimisation of 18 % Ni maraging steel produced by DED-ARC for enhancing mechanical properties

Lindič, Maja (author), Klobčar, Damjan (author), Nagode, Aleš (author), Mole, Nikolaj (author), Žužek, Borut (author), Vuherer, Tomaž (author)

This article deals with the Directed Energy Deposition using Wire and Arc (DED-ARC) for maraging steel cladding. A technology for cladding using Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) has been developed that enables the perfect deposition of maraging steel. The material characterisation was carried out in different material states: in the as-built, solution annealed and aged. The research included visual examinations, optical microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy / Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), fractography, hardness testing, tensile testing and impact toughness testing. The as-deposited state exhibited a microstructure with very long crystal grains and microsegregations orientated the direction of the heat sink, consisting of lath martensite. Consequently, a subsequent heat treatment is absolutely necessary in order to obtain a uniform fine-grained microstructure. Two different solution annealing processes were analysed, which allowed us to select the most suitable process for the first step of heat treatment followed by aging. A response surface methodology was used to optimise the aging conditions. The results show that additively manufactured maraging steel reaches a tensile strength of 1947 MPa, a hardness of 657 HV5 and a Charpy impact toughness of 11 J at peak aging condition, which is comparable to conventionally manufactured maraging steel.

• Language: English
• Keywords: maraging steel, heat treatment, material properties optimisation, DED-ARC, GMAW, RSM
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 12 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 11, art. 100312
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-169380
• UDC: 621.791.75:669.14
• ISSN on article: 2666-3309
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jajp.2025.100312
• COBISS.SI-ID: 237223939
• Publication date in RUL: 26.05.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Journal of advanced joining processes
• Publisher: Elsevier B.V.
• ISSN: 2666-3309
• COBISS.SI-ID: 56365059

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: maraging jeklo, toplotna obdelava, optimizacija materialnih lastnosti, DED-ARC, MIG, metoda odziva površin