Corrosion fatigue crack growth of laser additively-manufactured 316L stainless steel in high temperature water

Corrosion fatigue crack growth of laser additively-manufactured 316L stainless steel was studied in oxygenated 288 °C water. Effects of heat treatment, crack orientation, and applied cold work were evaluated. Stress-relieved material showed higher crack growth rate than annealed material. Their difference was not significant when the loading frequency was high. When the loading frequency decreased, the effects of material conditions created by heat treatment, crack orientation and applied cold work slightly increased. Retained unrecrystallized grains in an annealed material did not affect significantly the cracking susceptibility. High-temperature recrystallization treatment of an AM 316L component may be necessary for nuclear applications.