Sintering densification mechanism of binder jet 3D printing 316L stainless steel parts via dimensional compensation technology

The dimensional compensation technology can achieve high dense metal parts with precise dimensions for binder jet 3D printing (BJ3DP). In this study, two models (cuboid and gear) of BJ3DP 316L stainless steel (BJ3DP316LSS) parts were established. Numerical simulation and experimental volume shrinkage of the BJ3DP316LSS sintered parts via dimensional compensations technology were investigated. When the dimensional compensation coefficient was set as 1.25, the BJ3DP316LSS cuboids and gears exhibited high densification as 99.6% and 99.4%, respectively. The experimental dimension deviation rates of cuboid and gear parts after dimensional compensations ranged from -3.56% to -0.15% and from 0.89% to 3.42%, respectively. Due to twinning-induced plasticity mechanism, the BJ3DP316LSS sintered gear part via dimensional compensation technology exhibited high hardness (similar to 139 HV), high yield strength (similar to 249 MPa), high ultimate tensile strength (similar to 546 MPa) and excellent elongation (similar to 62%), which are higher than those of the reported 316LSS samples.