Dans le domaine de la métallurgie, la fabrication additive (FA) est un procédé de mise en forme des matériaux en pleine expansion dans plusieurs secteurs industriels tels que l’aéronautique, le spatial et l’automobile. L’exploitation des procédés de FA pour des applications dans l’industrie nucléaire est actuellement en cours d’étude dans différents pays. La FA permet d’élaborer des pièces optimisées avec des géométries complexes impossibles à réaliser avec les procédés conventionnels. Dans ce cadre, les travaux réalisés au cours de cette thèse visent à déterminer l’apport potentiel des procédés de FA pour la réalisation de composants métalliques pour diverses applications nucléaires dont les futurs réacteurs de Génération IV. Cette thèse présente les propriétés microstructurales et mécaniques de pièces en acier inoxydable 316L réalisées par procédé de fusion laser sélective sur lit de poudre (SLM, Selective Laser Melting). Trois thématiques ont été abordées dans cette étude : les paramètres du procédé SLM, les caractéristiques de la poudre et deux post-traitements thermiques (700°C-1h et compression isostatique à chaud : 1100°C-3h sous 1800 Bar). Leurs effets sur la microstructure et les propriétés mécaniques ont été analysés. Les propriétés en traction sur des éprouvettes en acier 316L ont été mesurées et comparées à celles d’un acier 316L forgé décrit par la norme RCC-MRX utilisée dans le domaine du nucléaire. Les résultats obtenus sont supérieurs à ceux de la norme et comparables à ceux d’un acier forgé. Cette thèse a permis de mieux cerner les interactions entre les paramètres liés au procédé, la microstructure et les propriétés mécaniques. / Additive Manufacturing (AM) recently became an attractive manufacturing process in several industrial fields such as aeronautics, aerospace and automotive. The exploitation of AM processes for the nuclear industry is currently being studied in different countries. The AM enables the creation of optimized parts with complex geometries impossible to manufacture with conventional processes. This thesis aims to determine the potential contribution of AM processes for the production of metal components for various nuclear applications including future Generation IV reactors. First, the microstructural and mechanical properties of 316L stainless steel parts built by Selective Laser Melting (SLM) process are presented. Three thematics were assessed in this study: the SLM process parameters, the powder characteristics and two post heat treatments (700 ° C-1h and hot isostatic pressing: 1100 ° C-3h under 1800 Bar). Their effects on microstructure and mechanical properties were analyzed. Tensile properties of 316L steel specimens were measured and compared to those of forged 316L steel described in the nuclear field by RCC-MRX standards. The results obtained are superior to those of the standard and comparable to those of a forged steel. This thesis contributes to a better understanding of interactions between the process parameters, the microstructure and the mechanical properties.

The focus of this thesis is to develop a simulation model for predicting ductile fractures during hot working at Alleima. The main fracture mechanism in these conditions is ductile fracture by void coalescence. The ductile fractures are caused by the linking of voids that appear when there is large plastic deformation near second-phase particles. The chosen method to simulate these was to use a Ductile Fracture Criterion (DFC), which builds on using FE models with a damage parameter. Two criteria were selected to be tested. The austenitic stainless-steel alloy 316L was selected as material for this work. Using the Gleeble 3500 system, hot tension and compression experiments were performed to gather data needed for the simulation models as well as inducing ductile fractures. Rupture occurred for all the hot tension samples and cracks were found for only one of the hot compression experiments. Using data from the Gleeble tests, a separate simulation model for each of the setups were created using the finite element software Marc/Mentat. A flow stress model for 316L was developed. Results from the simulations show that both selected DFCs can be used to predict ductile fractures. Particularly for hot tension. It was shown that it is important to model the temperature gradient in the sample accurately. For hot compression, it was difficult to conclude if the criterions were able to predict fracture since only one data point was available. The thesis concludes that there could be of interest with continued work using DFCs at Alleima.

The selective laser melting (SLM) process allows for the control of unique part form and function characteristics not achievable with conventional manufacturing methods and has thus gained interest in several industries such as the aerospace and biomedical fields. The fabrication processing parameters selected to manufacture a given part influence the created material microstructure and the final mechanical performance of the part. Understanding the process-structure and structure-performance relationships is very important for the design and quality assurance of SLM parts. Image based analysis methods are commonly used to characterize material microstructures, but are very time consuming, traditionally requiring manual segmentation of imaged features. Two Python-based image analysis tools are developed here to automate the instance segmentation of manufacturing defects and subgranular cell features commonly found in SLM 316L stainless steel (SS) for quantitative analysis. A custom trained mask region-based convolution neural network (Mask R-CNN) model is used to segment cell features from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images with an instance segmentation accuracy nearly identical to that of a human researcher, but about four orders of magnitude faster. The defect segmentation tool uses techniques from the OpenCV Python library to identify and segment defect instances from optical images. A melt pool structure generation tool is also developed to create custom melt-pool geometries based on a few user inputs with the ability to create functionally graded structures for use in a virtual testing framework. This tool allows for the study of complex melt-pool geometries and graded structures commonly seen in SLM parts and is applied to three finite element analyses to investigate the effects of different melt-pool geometries on part stress concentrations. / Master of Science / Recent advancements in additive manufacturing (AM) processes like the selective laser melting (SLM) process are revolutionizing the way many products are manufactured. The geometric form and material microstructure of SLM parts can be controlled by manufacturing settings, referred to as fabrication processing parameters, in ways not previously possible via conventional manufacturing techniques such as machining and casting. The improved geometric control of SLM parts has enabled more complex part geometries as well as significant manufacturing cost savings for some parts. With improved control over the material microstructure, the mechanical performance of SLM parts can be finely tailored and optimized for a particular application. Complex functionally graded materials (FGM) can also easily be created with the SLM process by varying the fabrication processing parameters spatially within the manufactured part to improve mechanical performance for a desired application. The added control offered by the SLM process has created a need for understanding how changes in the fabrication processing parameters affect the material structure, and in turn, how the produced structure affects the mechanical properties of the part. This study presents three different tools developed for the automated characterization of SLM 316L stainless steel (SS) material structures and the generation of realistic material structures for numerical simulation of mechanical performance. A defect content tool is presented to automatically identify and create binary segmentations of defects in SLM parts, consisting of small air pockets within the volume of the parts, from digital optical images. A machine learning based instance segmentation tool is also trained on a custom data set and used to measure the size of nanoscale cell features unique to 316L (SS) and some other metal alloys processed with SLM from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Both these tools automate the laborious process of segmenting individual objects of interest from hundreds or thousands of images and are shown to have an accuracy very close to that of manually produced results from a human. The results are also used to analyze three different samples produced with different fabrication processing parameters which showed similar process-structure relationships with other studies. The SLM structure generation tool is developed to create melt pool structures similar to those seen in SLM parts from the successive melting and solidification of material from the laser scanning path. This structural feature is unique to AM processes such as SLM, and the example test cases investigated in this study shows that changes in the melt pool structure geometry have a measurable effect, slightly above 10% difference, on the stress and strain response of the material when a tensile load is applied. The melt pool structure generation tool can create complex geometries capable of varying spatially to create FGMs from a few user inputs, and when applied to existing simulation methods for SLM parts, offers improved estimates for the mechanical response of SLM parts.

Vilken påverkan som upprepad rengöring av rostfritt stål 316L inom livsmedelsindustrin har gällande dess ytegenskaper, grad av metallfrisättning och korrosionsbeteende är delvis outforskat. Vid rengöring skapar en förhöjd temperatur, olika pH-värden hos rengöringsmedlen och kloridjoner (Cl-) från kranvatten eller desinfektionsmedel en potentiellt korrosiv miljö. Felaktiga rengöringsmetoder kan öka risken för lokal korrosion, såsom gropkorrosion, vilket även påverkar metallfrisättningen under produktion och transport. Därför är det viktigt för livsmedelsindustrin att ha pålitlig information om hur upprepad rengöring påverkar ytegenskaperna, graden av metallfrisättning och förändringar i korrosionsmotstånd för att säkerställa en säker produktionsmiljö. Syftet med denna studie var att undersökta effekterna av upprepad rengöring av rostfritt stål av typ 316L som används för att processa livsmedel. Genom att undersöka effekter av de individuella rengöringsmedlen, H2O2, NaOH, HNO3, och CH3CO2OH, var för sig samt i en sekvens (relevant för industriellt bruk) tillhandahölls information om förändringar i ytoxiden relaterat till användning av de olika kemikalierna.  Resultaten visar att upprepad rengöring förändrar den kemiska sammansättningen av ytoxiderna på den rostfria stålytan (XPS) efter individuell exponering för NaOH, HNO3 och den sekventiella metoden, men visade på ingen betydande skillnad efter individuell exponering för H2O2 eller CH3CO2OH. Ingen betydande förändring i ytmorfologi kunde heller observeras (LOM). En högre mängd frisatt metall observerades i NaOH, HNO3 och den sekventiella rengöringsmetoden jämfört med H2O2, och CH3CO2OH (AAS).  En uppskattning av de tvättade ytornas korrosionsbeteende i kontakt med livsmedel erhölls genom elektrokemiska tester i citronsyra och artificiellt kranvatten. Resultaten visade att rostfritt stål 316L efter upprepad rengöring hade en högre benägenhet för gropkorrosion vid kontakt med artificiellt tappvatten (PDP). Skillnaden i den passiva ytoxidens elektrokemiska egenskaper hos det rengjorda rostfria stålet 316L var liten vid simulering av livsmedelskontakt (EIS). / The influence of repeated cleaning of 316L stainless steel in the food industry is not fully understood in terms of surface properties, metal migration, and corrosion behavior upon repeated contact with food stuffs during production. During cleaning, high applied temperatures, different pH of the cleaning agents, and presence of chloride ions (Cl-) from e.g. the tap water, food stuff or disinfectants create a potentially corrosive environment. Improper cleaning procedures used to clean 316L stainless steel may increase the susceptibility of localized corrosion, such as pitting corrosion, affecting the metal migration during food production and transport. Improved understanding of how repeated cleaning treatments affect the surface properties, extent of metal migration, and the corrosion performance is, hence, vital for the food industry in order to ensure a safe production environment.  In this study, effects of repeated cleaning through different cleaning procedures provided by the industrial partners were investigated for 316L stainless steel (SS). The surface properties after repeated cleaning using five different cleaning procedures, four single solution procedures H2O2, NaOH, HNO3 and CH3CO2OH, and one sequential procedure including the four solutions in sequence, were further studied in the simulation of food contact using citric acid and artificial tap water.  From the results it was evident that the repeated cleaning procedures changed the surface oxide composition of 316L SS (determined by means of XPS) after exposure to NaOH, HNO3 single solution cleaning and the sequential cleaning procedures but no significant changes could be observed after cleaning in H2O2 and CH3CO2OH separately. No significant difference in surface morphology was observed when comparing samples before and after repeated cleaning (by means of LOM).  A higher amount of released metals was observed in the cleaning solutions from single NaOH solution, single HNO3 solution, and the sequential cleaning procedures (using AAS) compared with H2O2 and CH3CO2OH. After repeated cleaning, the electrochemical test (by means of PDP) results showed a somewhat greater tendency of 316L SS for pitting corrosion in contact with artificial tap water compared with citric acid. The observed differences in electrochemical properties of the passive film on the cleaned 316L SS was minor in the simulation of food contact applications (by means of EIS).

Making gradient in the microstructure of metals is proven to be a superior method for improving their mechanical properties. In this research, we 3D print, characterize and evaluate the mechanical properties of 316L Stainless Steel with a gradient in their microstructure. During 3D printing, the gradient in the microstructure is created by tailoring the processing parameters (hatch spacing, scanning speed, and laser power and scanning speed) of the Selective Laser Melting (SLM). The Materials with Graded Microstructure (MGMs) are characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Image processing framework is utilized to reveal the distribution of cells and melt pools shapes and sizes in the volume of the material when the processing parameters change. It is shown that the laser power, scanning speed and the hatch spacing have a more significant effect on the size and shape of cells and melt pools compared to the speed. Multiple Dog bones are 3D printed with a microstructure that has smaller features (cells and melt polls) at the edges of the structure compared to the center. Tensile and fatigue tests are performed and compared for samples with constant and graded microstructures. / Master of Science / The mechanical performance of Selective Laser Melting (SLM) fabricated materials is an important topic in research. Strengthening the performance of these materials can be achieved through implementing a gradient within the microstructure, referred to as Materials with Graded Microstructure (MGMs). A complicated microstructure can weaken the microstructure, and this can be resolved by optimizing the microstructure during SLM 3D printing, in which the processing parameters are tailored. In this study, the mechanical properties of these MGMs were characterized and evaluated. The gradient in these materials were created by modifying SLM process parameters (scanning speed, hatch spacing, and laser power and scanning speed) during the build. Optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize these the microstructure of these MGMs, and image processing was used to examine the distribution of cells and melt pools characteristics throughout the region where the processing parameters changed. This investigation shows that laser power, scanning speed, and hatch spacing have a direct effect on the size and shape of the cells and melt pools, compared to scanning speed, which shows an effect on melt pools. Dog bone structures are 3-D printed with a graded microstructure that has small cells and melt pools at the edges, compared to the center, by changing the laser power and scanning speed. Tensile and fatigue analysis are performed and compared for samples with constant and graded microstructures, which reveal that the mechanical properties of the MGMs perform similar to the parameter at the edges, but differently in fracture mechanics.

Ces travaux ont pour but d'évaluer l'apport de la modélisation numérique pour étudier la modification de la plasticité des polycristaux métalliques par l'hydrogène absorbé. De précédents travaux ont proposé une quantification expérimentale de cet effet, grâce à des mesures par microscopie à force atomique (AFM) des marches de glissement émergeant à la surface d'agrégats polycristallins (316L), chargés ou non en hydrogène.Après avoir étudié l'impact de la modélisation géométrique sur la précision des résultats numériques, nous proposons une méthode permettant d'analyser les résultats AFM grâce à la modélisation numérique, en prenant en compte le niveau de déformation plastique à l'échelle du grain et le fait que les mesures AFM sont des projections des dimensions "réelles" des marches de glissement: le nombre de marches de glissement émises et l'espacement inter-marche. Ces quantités permettent alors de comparer les comportement plastiques observés expérimentalement sur différents agrégats, et donc de quantifier l'impact de l'hydrogène absorbé sur le développement de la plasticité.Nous étudions ensuite la capacité du modèle numérique pour modéliser une modification de la plasticité à l'échelle intragranulaire: des hétérogénéités sont introduites au sein d'un modèle de grain et l'impact sur la distribution de la déformation plastique résultante est analysée. / The modification of plasticity observed in hydrogen-charged metalic polycristals has been studied using numerical modeling (Finite Element Method). This effect has been quantified by a previous study using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), by measuring the slip steps forming at the surface of (hydrogen-)charged or uncharged 316L polycristals. However the heterogeneity of the strain field in a polycristal makes it difficult to compare precisely the results from different grains and aggregates.After analyzing the impact of the geometrical modelling on the numerical results, this present study porposes a method using numerical simulations (Crystal Plasticity model) to access the local plastic strain field at grain scale, and improve the analysis of the AFM results. The projections of the slip step "real" dimensions into AFM measures (heights and spacings) are taken into consideration in order to convert AFM data into data that are directly linked to plastic activity: the average number of dislocations and slip step spacing. This quantities make it possible to compare the experimental plastic behaviours of the differents agregates in order to quantify the impact of the hydrogen absorption.The capacity of the crystal plasticity model to simulate plasticity modification at intragranulare scale is then studied by implementing material heterogeneities within a grain model, and the resulting modification of the slip developpement within the grain is then analyzed.

Projetos de instalações industriais com requisitos de assepsia e resistência à corrosão têm os aços inoxidáveis austeníticos como materiais de engenharia, e a liga AISI 316L é amplamente utilizada. A soldagem de chapas espessas é executada por processos MIG e a qualificação do procedimento de soldagem é realizada com base em propriedades mecânicas, avaliação insuficiente para aplicações que necessitam de uma película passiva resistente. A microestrutura da zona fundida da liga AISI 316L exerce influência sobre a resistência à corrosão, e há a necessidade de definir os mecanismos que governam a influência da fase sigma na resistência à corrosão. Inserido neste contexto, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a influência da fase sigma na resistência à corrosão em microrregiões de juntas soldadas multipasse da liga AISI 316L produzidas pelo processo MIG nos modos de transferência metálica pulsado, curto-circuito e spray. A metodologia consistiu em reproduzir amostras soldadas com parâmetros de soldagem aplicados na indústria para os modos de transferência metálica de interesse, com detalhada caracterização microestrutural da zona fundida de cada condição de soldagem. Em seguida, foram conduzidos ensaios eletroquímicos de corrosão em microrregiões da junta soldada em solução de 3,5% NaCl, e a influência da fase sigma na corrosão por pite foi avaliada por ensaio de imersão em solução de cloreto férrico (6% FeCl3). Caracterizou-se a área exposta à varredura por técnicas de microscopia ótica, microscopia eletrônica de varredura e microanálise química. A soldagem no modo pulsado resultou em uma zona fundida com microestrutura bifásica com a mais baixa fração volumétrica de ferrita delta, de refinada morfologia e isenta de fase sigma, proporcionando o mais nobre desempenho nos ensaios de corrosão, que se manifestou pelo mecanismo de corrosão localizada. A avaliação da área exposta à varredura demonstrou que, previamente a corrosão por pite, a corrosão incia-se de forma localizada, contudo, sem corrosão preferencial de uma das fases, característica que proporcionou parâmetros eletroquímicos mais nobres do que aqueles com corrosão seletiva de fases. Está característica é atribuída à ausência da fase sigma na microestrutura da zona fundida do modo pulsado. No modo curto-circuito ocorreu à decomposição eutetóide da ferrita delta formando a austenita secundária e a fase sigma, sendo está última precipitada principalmente no interior da ferrita delta. A morfologia da corrosão se dá, na fase inicial, como corrosão seletiva de fases, com degradação preferencial da austenita secundária e em direção a ferrita delta, devido à fragilização desta fase pela precipitação de fase sigma em seu interior. A degradação seletiva das fases austenita secundária e ferrita delta causam danos localizados ao filme passivo e, nestas regiões empobrecidas de cromo e molibdênio, ocorre à corrosão por pite. O modo spray com a mais elevada energia de soldagem resultou em uma ferrita delta grosseira e com estreitas bandas de austenita na microrregião de enchimento do chanfro e na raiz da solda, com alto índice de fase sigma nestas localizações. O processo corrosivo da zona fundida caracterizou-se por corrosão seletiva da fase austenita secundária e em direção à matriz austenítica, uma vez que a fase sigma revestiu a ferrita delta, tornando-a a região de comportamento catódico entre o par galvânico formado entre as fases austenita e ferrita delta. A corrosão seletiva da matriz austenítica causa a fragilização localizada do filme passivo com consequente corrosão por pite. O trabalho realizado permite concluir que o potencial de pite foi reduzido com a presença de fase sigma e fases a esta associada, e justamente o modo pulsado obteve destacada resistência à corrosão em função da ausência da fase sigma em sua microestrutura. / Industrial plant designs with asepsis and corrosion resistance requirements have austenitic stainless steels as engineering materials, and the AISI 316L alloy is widely used. The welding of thick plates is performed by MIG processes and the qualification of the welding procedure is carried out based on mechanical properties, insufficient evaluation for applications that require a resistant passive film. The microstructure of the molten zone of the AISI 316L alloy influences the corrosion resistance, and it is necessary to define the mechanisms that govern the influence of the sigma phase on corrosion resistance. In this context, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the sigma phase on the corrosion resistance in microrregions of multipass welded joints of the AISI 316L alloy produced by MIG process with metal transfer in pulsed, short circuit and spray modes. The methodology consisted in reproducing welded samples with welding parameters applied in the industry for the modes of metallic transfer of interest, with detailed microstructural characterization of the molten zone of each welding condition. Then, electrochemical corrosion tests were carried out in microrregions of the welded joint in 3.5% NaCl solution, and the influence of the sigma phase on pitting corrosion was evaluated by immersion test in ferric chloride solution (6% FeCl3). The area exposed to the scanning was characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and chemical microanalysis. Pulsed mode welding resulted in a molten zone with a biphasic microstructure with the lowest volume fraction of delta ferrite, refined morphology and sigma phase free, providing the noblest performance in the corrosion tests, which occurred in the form of localized corrosion. The evaluation of the area exposed to the scan showed that, prior to pitting corrosion, the corrosion started in a localized manner, however, without preferential corrosion of one of the phases, a characteristic that gave better electrochemical parameters than those with selective corrosion of phases. This characteristic is attributed to the absence of the sigma phase in the microstructure of the molten zone of the pulsed mode. In the short-circuit mode, the eutectoid decomposition of the delta ferrite formed the secondary austenite and the sigma phase, the latter being mainly precipitated inside the delta ferrite. The corrosion morphology occurs in the initial phase as selective corrosion of phases, with preferential degradation of the secondary austenite and towards the ferrite delta, due to the embrittlement of this phase by the precipitation of the sigma phase inside. The selective degradation of the secondary austenite and delta ferrite phases causes localized damage to the passive film and, in these impoverished regions of chromium and molybdenum, occurs to pitting corrosion. The spray mode with the highest welding energy resulted in a coarse delta ferrite with narrow bands of austenite in the chamfer filling microrregion and at the root of the weld, with a high sigma phase index at these locations. The corrosive process of the molten zone was characterized by selective corrosion of the secondary austenite phase and towards the austenitic matrix, since the sigma phase covered the delta ferrite, making it the region of cathodic behavior between the galvanic pair formed between the austenite and ferrite delta phases. Selective corrosion of the austenitic matrix causes localized embrittlement of the passive film with consequent pitting corrosion. The study accomplished allows concluding that the pitting potential was reduced with the presence of sigma phase and phases associated with it, and precisely the pulsed mode obtained outstanding corrosion resistance due to the absence of the sigma phase in its microstructure.

Projetos de instalações industriais com requisitos de assepsia e resistência à corrosão têm os aços inoxidáveis austeníticos como materiais de engenharia, e a liga AISI 316L é amplamente utilizada. A soldagem de chapas espessas é executada por processos MIG e a qualificação do procedimento de soldagem é realizada com base em propriedades mecânicas, avaliação insuficiente para aplicações que necessitam de uma película passiva resistente. A microestrutura da zona fundida da liga AISI 316L exerce influência sobre a resistência à corrosão, e há a necessidade de definir os mecanismos que governam a influência da fase sigma na resistência à corrosão. Inserido neste contexto, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a influência da fase sigma na resistência à corrosão em microrregiões de juntas soldadas multipasse da liga AISI 316L produzidas pelo processo MIG nos modos de transferência metálica pulsado, curto-circuito e spray. A metodologia consistiu em reproduzir amostras soldadas com parâmetros de soldagem aplicados na indústria para os modos de transferência metálica de interesse, com detalhada caracterização microestrutural da zona fundida de cada condição de soldagem. Em seguida, foram conduzidos ensaios eletroquímicos de corrosão em microrregiões da junta soldada em solução de 3,5% NaCl, e a influência da fase sigma na corrosão por pite foi avaliada por ensaio de imersão em solução de cloreto férrico (6% FeCl3). Caracterizou-se a área exposta à varredura por técnicas de microscopia ótica, microscopia eletrônica de varredura e microanálise química. A soldagem no modo pulsado resultou em uma zona fundida com microestrutura bifásica com a mais baixa fração volumétrica de ferrita delta, de refinada morfologia e isenta de fase sigma, proporcionando o mais nobre desempenho nos ensaios de corrosão, que se manifestou pelo mecanismo de corrosão localizada. A avaliação da área exposta à varredura demonstrou que, previamente a corrosão por pite, a corrosão incia-se de forma localizada, contudo, sem corrosão preferencial de uma das fases, característica que proporcionou parâmetros eletroquímicos mais nobres do que aqueles com corrosão seletiva de fases. Está característica é atribuída à ausência da fase sigma na microestrutura da zona fundida do modo pulsado. No modo curto-circuito ocorreu à decomposição eutetóide da ferrita delta formando a austenita secundária e a fase sigma, sendo está última precipitada principalmente no interior da ferrita delta. A morfologia da corrosão se dá, na fase inicial, como corrosão seletiva de fases, com degradação preferencial da austenita secundária e em direção a ferrita delta, devido à fragilização desta fase pela precipitação de fase sigma em seu interior. A degradação seletiva das fases austenita secundária e ferrita delta causam danos localizados ao filme passivo e, nestas regiões empobrecidas de cromo e molibdênio, ocorre à corrosão por pite. O modo spray com a mais elevada energia de soldagem resultou em uma ferrita delta grosseira e com estreitas bandas de austenita na microrregião de enchimento do chanfro e na raiz da solda, com alto índice de fase sigma nestas localizações. O processo corrosivo da zona fundida caracterizou-se por corrosão seletiva da fase austenita secundária e em direção à matriz austenítica, uma vez que a fase sigma revestiu a ferrita delta, tornando-a a região de comportamento catódico entre o par galvânico formado entre as fases austenita e ferrita delta. A corrosão seletiva da matriz austenítica causa a fragilização localizada do filme passivo com consequente corrosão por pite. O trabalho realizado permite concluir que o potencial de pite foi reduzido com a presença de fase sigma e fases a esta associada, e justamente o modo pulsado obteve destacada resistência à corrosão em função da ausência da fase sigma em sua microestrutura. / Industrial plant designs with asepsis and corrosion resistance requirements have austenitic stainless steels as engineering materials, and the AISI 316L alloy is widely used. The welding of thick plates is performed by MIG processes and the qualification of the welding procedure is carried out based on mechanical properties, insufficient evaluation for applications that require a resistant passive film. The microstructure of the molten zone of the AISI 316L alloy influences the corrosion resistance, and it is necessary to define the mechanisms that govern the influence of the sigma phase on corrosion resistance. In this context, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the sigma phase on the corrosion resistance in microrregions of multipass welded joints of the AISI 316L alloy produced by MIG process with metal transfer in pulsed, short circuit and spray modes. The methodology consisted in reproducing welded samples with welding parameters applied in the industry for the modes of metallic transfer of interest, with detailed microstructural characterization of the molten zone of each welding condition. Then, electrochemical corrosion tests were carried out in microrregions of the welded joint in 3.5% NaCl solution, and the influence of the sigma phase on pitting corrosion was evaluated by immersion test in ferric chloride solution (6% FeCl3). The area exposed to the scanning was characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and chemical microanalysis. Pulsed mode welding resulted in a molten zone with a biphasic microstructure with the lowest volume fraction of delta ferrite, refined morphology and sigma phase free, providing the noblest performance in the corrosion tests, which occurred in the form of localized corrosion. The evaluation of the area exposed to the scan showed that, prior to pitting corrosion, the corrosion started in a localized manner, however, without preferential corrosion of one of the phases, a characteristic that gave better electrochemical parameters than those with selective corrosion of phases. This characteristic is attributed to the absence of the sigma phase in the microstructure of the molten zone of the pulsed mode. In the short-circuit mode, the eutectoid decomposition of the delta ferrite formed the secondary austenite and the sigma phase, the latter being mainly precipitated inside the delta ferrite. The corrosion morphology occurs in the initial phase as selective corrosion of phases, with preferential degradation of the secondary austenite and towards the ferrite delta, due to the embrittlement of this phase by the precipitation of the sigma phase inside. The selective degradation of the secondary austenite and delta ferrite phases causes localized damage to the passive film and, in these impoverished regions of chromium and molybdenum, occurs to pitting corrosion. The spray mode with the highest welding energy resulted in a coarse delta ferrite with narrow bands of austenite in the chamfer filling microrregion and at the root of the weld, with a high sigma phase index at these locations. The corrosive process of the molten zone was characterized by selective corrosion of the secondary austenite phase and towards the austenitic matrix, since the sigma phase covered the delta ferrite, making it the region of cathodic behavior between the galvanic pair formed between the austenite and ferrite delta phases. Selective corrosion of the austenitic matrix causes localized embrittlement of the passive film with consequent pitting corrosion. The study accomplished allows concluding that the pitting potential was reduced with the presence of sigma phase and phases associated with it, and precisely the pulsed mode obtained outstanding corrosion resistance due to the absence of the sigma phase in its microstructure.

Metal additive technology allows to create objects with complex shape that are very difficult to produce by conventional technologies. An example of such component is a porous structure which is composed of periodical truss cells. This diploma thesis deals with the prediction of the mechanical properties of very small lattice structures made of additive manufacturing technology Selective Laser Melting. Using the proposed test specimens it was found that real dimensions of the trusses varies with size and orientation to the base platform. It was proposed and tested samples for rod tensile test made of SLM. Based on the real information about dimensions and mechanical properties of rods were predicted mechanical properties of lattice structures. A lot of mechanical tests were carried out to obtain the real mechanical properties. Test results and conclusions are described in the thesis.

A solution-hardening of AISI 316L stainless-steel powder was conducted. The expansion of the crystal lattice and a strong increase in the nanoindentation hardness confirm the successful diffusion of carbon and nitrogen in the interstices. A multiphase state of the powder feedstock with phase fractions of the metastable S-phase (expanded austenite) mainly at the particle’s edge, and the initial austenitic phase within the core was found. Thermal spraying using high velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) and atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) prove the sufficient thermal stability of the Sphase. Microstructural investigations of the HVOF coating reveal the ductility of the S-phase layer, while the higher heat load within the APS cause diffusion processes with the initial austenitic phase. The lattice expansion and the nanoindentation hardness decrease during thermal spraying. However, the absence of precipitates ensures the sufficient heat stability of the metastable S-phase. Even though further efforts are required for the thermochemical treatment of powder feedstock, the results confirm the feasibility of the novel powder treatment approach.