Effect of cold compaction pressure and sintering temperature on the densification and microstructure of 316L stainless steel powder

Austenitic stainless steel 316 L is widely used for several structural, industrial, and biomedical applications due to its outstanding corrosion resistance, good strength, ductility, and biocompatibility compared to counterparts. This study investigates the effect of different cold compaction pressu...

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Main Authors: Ayman Mahmoud Fahim, Tamás Mikó, Mohamed Zaky Ahmed, Zoltán Gácsi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Results in Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025021024
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author Ayman Mahmoud Fahim
Tamás Mikó
Mohamed Zaky Ahmed
Zoltán Gácsi
author_facet Ayman Mahmoud Fahim
Tamás Mikó
Mohamed Zaky Ahmed
Zoltán Gácsi
author_sort Ayman Mahmoud Fahim
collection DOAJ
description Austenitic stainless steel 316 L is widely used for several structural, industrial, and biomedical applications due to its outstanding corrosion resistance, good strength, ductility, and biocompatibility compared to counterparts. This study investigates the effect of different cold compaction pressures and sintering temperatures on densification and microstructure evolution of consolidated 316 L powder. Compaction pressures ranging from 600 to 1600 MPa were applied to obtain cold compacts of 8 mm diameter and approximately 10 mm height. Sintering at temperatures of 1150–1300 °C for 60 min was applied. After cold compaction and sintering, the produced samples were characterized in terms of densification, hardness, and microstructure evolution. Densification was examined through Archimedes density measurement. Microstructure was examined using scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) was used to investigate grain structure and texture. For samples compacted at 1200 MPa, grain size increased from 17.1 µm at 1150 °C to 60.7 µm at 1300 °C, while twin boundary fraction decreased from 44.22 % to 5.36 %. Maximum hardness of 160 HV along with compressive yield strength of 299 MPa were recorded at 1150 °C and 1600 MPa compaction pressure, while maximum density of 97.0 % was achieved at 1300 °C at the same pressure. Results indicate that 1150 °C and 1600 MPa presents the most promising balance between densification and mechanical properties. The direct correlation between relative density and mechanical properties confirms that densification plays a dominant role in strengthening at lower sintering temperatures, whereas at higher temperatures, microstructural factors such as grain growth and reduced twinning limit further improvements.
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spelling doaj-art-6d59f53fc3dd42ebb3149b8ffd140b792025-08-20T03:28:13ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-09-012710603010.1016/j.rineng.2025.106030Effect of cold compaction pressure and sintering temperature on the densification and microstructure of 316L stainless steel powderAyman Mahmoud Fahim0Tamás Mikó1Mohamed Zaky Ahmed2Zoltán Gácsi3Institute of Physical Metallurgy, Metalforming and Nanotechnology, University of Miskolc, Hungary; Polymer Laboratory, Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, 35516, Mansoura, Egypt; Corresponding author.Institute of Physical Metallurgy, Metalforming and Nanotechnology, University of Miskolc, HungaryDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering at Al Kharj, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al Kharj, 11942, Saudi ArabiaInstitute of Physical Metallurgy, Metalforming and Nanotechnology, University of Miskolc, HungaryAustenitic stainless steel 316 L is widely used for several structural, industrial, and biomedical applications due to its outstanding corrosion resistance, good strength, ductility, and biocompatibility compared to counterparts. This study investigates the effect of different cold compaction pressures and sintering temperatures on densification and microstructure evolution of consolidated 316 L powder. Compaction pressures ranging from 600 to 1600 MPa were applied to obtain cold compacts of 8 mm diameter and approximately 10 mm height. Sintering at temperatures of 1150–1300 °C for 60 min was applied. After cold compaction and sintering, the produced samples were characterized in terms of densification, hardness, and microstructure evolution. Densification was examined through Archimedes density measurement. Microstructure was examined using scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) was used to investigate grain structure and texture. For samples compacted at 1200 MPa, grain size increased from 17.1 µm at 1150 °C to 60.7 µm at 1300 °C, while twin boundary fraction decreased from 44.22 % to 5.36 %. Maximum hardness of 160 HV along with compressive yield strength of 299 MPa were recorded at 1150 °C and 1600 MPa compaction pressure, while maximum density of 97.0 % was achieved at 1300 °C at the same pressure. Results indicate that 1150 °C and 1600 MPa presents the most promising balance between densification and mechanical properties. The direct correlation between relative density and mechanical properties confirms that densification plays a dominant role in strengthening at lower sintering temperatures, whereas at higher temperatures, microstructural factors such as grain growth and reduced twinning limit further improvements.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S25901230250210243116L stainless steelPowder metallurgyDensificationGrain size effecthardness improvement
spellingShingle Ayman Mahmoud Fahim
Tamás Mikó
Mohamed Zaky Ahmed
Zoltán Gácsi
Effect of cold compaction pressure and sintering temperature on the densification and microstructure of 316L stainless steel powder
Results in Engineering
3116L stainless steel
Powder metallurgy
Densification
Grain size effect
hardness improvement
title Effect of cold compaction pressure and sintering temperature on the densification and microstructure of 316L stainless steel powder
title_full Effect of cold compaction pressure and sintering temperature on the densification and microstructure of 316L stainless steel powder
title_fullStr Effect of cold compaction pressure and sintering temperature on the densification and microstructure of 316L stainless steel powder
title_full_unstemmed Effect of cold compaction pressure and sintering temperature on the densification and microstructure of 316L stainless steel powder
title_short Effect of cold compaction pressure and sintering temperature on the densification and microstructure of 316L stainless steel powder
title_sort effect of cold compaction pressure and sintering temperature on the densification and microstructure of 316l stainless steel powder
topic 3116L stainless steel
Powder metallurgy
Densification
Grain size effect
hardness improvement
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025021024
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