Microstructural and Hardness Evolution of AM 15-5 PH in Response to Conventional Heat Treatments

This presentation covers the microstructural and hardness evolution of 15-5 PH stainless steel samples fabricated by laser powder bed fusion on a Selective Laser Melting SLM® 280HL machine. The intention of this work was to gain a better understanding of how the additively manufactured (AM) material responds to conventional heat treatment processes. This work focused on determining whether a hot isostatic press (HIP) treatment could effectively serve as a solution/homogenization heat treatment and if performing the HIP at 1950 ºF would be sufficient to close porosity. The effect of various precipitation hardening treatments were assessed and compared to literature values of conventionally processed 15-5 PH. Results from the different trials will be presented along with the preferred post-processing methods to achieve the needed properties going forward.