Surface modification of AISI 410 stainless steel using laser engineered net shaping (LENSTM)

Surface modification of AISI 410 martensitic stainless steel was carried out by laser surface-melting using laser engineered net shaping (LENSTM). The microstructures of laser surface-melted specimens showed varying amount of retained austenite depending on the processing parameters. The refinement and high strength of austenite as a result of increased scan speed and decreased laser power resulted in high amount of retained austenite in the final microstructure. Laser surface-melting of AISI 410 martensitic stainless steel at optimized processing parameters resulted in fine martensite with minimum retained austenite, leading to a 55% increase in the surface hardness compared to the hardness of conventionally heat treated samples. The inherent advantage of laser surface-melting using LENSTM is to control simultaneously both location and microstructure leading to better service performance of components.