The effect of corrosion on the fatigue crack-growth of 17-4 PH stainless steel specimens made by selective laser melting☆

The numerous advantages of the Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technology have made it a quite common Additive Manufacturing (AM) process for components made in metals and metallic alloys. Several factors, like building direction, defects, residual stresses and corrosion can substantially jeopardize the performance of the finished products obtained with such manufacturing process. In this regard, the present study investigates the impact of corrosion on the fatigue crack-growth behavior of 17-4 PH stainless steel specimens manufactured through SLM. This type of stainless steel, known for its high strength and corrosion resistance, is widely used in applications requiring durability under cyclic loading. For this reason, this work explores how the experimental crack initiation and propagation rates are affected by two cross different orientations of the initial notch (horizontal and vertical), different testing environments (air and seawater) and different load frequencies. Findings also highlight how corrosion accelerates fatigue crack growth in SLM-fabricated specimens, indicating a need for tailored post-processing treatments to enhance their performance in corrosive environments.