Effect of Heat Treatment on Austenitic Steel Weld Deposit Formed by WAAM

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of post-deposition heat treatment on the mechanical and microstructural behaviour of WAAM-fabricated S308L austenitic stainless steel. Samples were produced using a GMAW-based WAAM process with ESAB 308LSi wire and evaluated in both as-deposited and heat-treated conditions. Non-destructive testing, including visual and liquid penetrant inspection, was performed to assess surface integrity, followed by destructive testing such as tensile, hardness, impact, and bending tests to determine mechanical performance. Heat-treated samples demonstrated improved ductility and a more uniform hardness distribution as a result of stress relief and microstructural homogenisation. The results highlight the effectiveness of heat treatment in enhancing the reliability and consistency of WAAM components.