The Carbon Cure: How Low-Temperature Carburizing Tames Friction in 3D-Printed Steel
Selective laser melting (SLM) of 316L stainless steel has unlocked complex geometries for structural components, yet the process introduces a pronounced anisotropic microstructure—layered melt pools and columnar grains—that yields direction-dependent tribological performance. Previous studies have focused on post-processing strategies to homogenize surface properties, but none have systematically examined how low-temperature gaseous carburizing interacts with the unique microstructural hierarchy of additively manufactured parts. This investigation, forthcoming in Wear (Volume 597, July 2026), reveals that carburizing at 470 °C creates a supersaturated carbon diffusion zone up to 30 μm deep, fundamentally altering the wear regime from severe adhesive wear to mild oxidative wear along the build direction.
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