MORE | Summer 2020

3D Printing of Stainless-Steel Replacement Piping for Corrosive and Low-Pressure Environments

Corrosion is one of the foremost causes of stainless-steel (SS 316L) pipeline failures. Process water containing salts and ions reacts with surfaces causing pitting corrosion leading to frequent failures. Selective Laser Melting (SLM) printed SS 316L could be the potential improvement for quicker turnaround time and corrosion performance. Here, the corrosion performance of SLM printed SS 316L is analyzed and compared with wrought SS 316L with electrochemical methods, gravimetry, and microscopic characterization. Measurements of percentage mass loss, pitting potential and surface resistance show that SLM printed SS 316L has better corrosion resistance than the conventional wrought specimens.