Subgrain-controlled grain growth in the laser-melted 316 L promoting strength at high temperatures

Stainless steel 316 L prepared by laser melting consisted of a hierarchical austenitic microstructure with micrometre-sized (10–25 µm) grains containing fine 1 µm subgrains with a cellular structure. At high-temperature thermal treatments (greater than or equal to 1100°C), merging and growth of the 1 µm subgrains into bigger subgrains restricted the rapid grain growth and microstructure coarsening. Partial phase transformation of austenite to ferrite at temperatures greater than or equal to 1100°C, in combination with gradual and steady growth of subgrains inside the micrometre-sized grains and nucleation of the sigma phase, has promoted the tensile strength of stainless steel 316 L to 300 MPa at 1100°C compared with that of conventionally made 316 L counterparts (approx. 40 MPa). The grain growth mechanism of the laser-melted microstructure can change the application criteria for 316 L and expand the application fields for 316 L.