Near net shape manufacture of a novel maraging steel: mechanical and microstructural characterisation

The efficiency in creating complex components with a minimum of waste products has led to near net shape manufacturing experiencing a surge in research investment in recent years. Shear forming, and in particular, flow forming, boasts significant environmental credentials, as well as intricacy, being less power thirsty than the alternatives (lathing, welding, etc.). It is hoped that the inference of work stresses, combined with complex heat treatment, will facilitate this novel maraging steel, F1E, to be manufactured into single piece components, previously thought not to be possible.

This presentation will describe a PhD research project based at the Swansea University Technology Centre demonstrating the characterisation of F1E processed via flow forming in an attempt to achieve this challenging engineering goal. Key mechanical properties, including low cycle fatigue and fatigue crack growth characteristics, will be presented based on novel forms of laboratory testing techniques, as well as established microstructural characterisation, SEM, EBSD and XRD.