The Heat Treatment and Mechanical Properties of WAAM Steels

When any ‘new’ alloy or product form of steel has become available for industry, a thorough understanding of the alloy’s physical properties, performance under various service conditions, and the effects of various post-processing steps on these factors are required before the material is widely accepted. Recently, the production of steel components using directed energy deposition additive manufacturing and specifically wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) with gas-metal arc welding (GMAW) technology has become a viable alternative to forgings, castings, or as an attachment to other product forms. As part of a series of studies on this process by students and faculty at Conestoga College in Cambridge, Ontario, this study specifically examines the effects of post-printing heat treatment on various mild and low-alloy steels.