Microstructural evolution in microwave heat-treated 316 L stainless steel developed using direct metal laser sintering

Rahul Samyal; T. L. Dora; Raman Bedi; Radha Raman Mishra

doi:10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140820

Microstructural evolution in microwave heat-treated 316 L stainless steel developed using direct metal laser sintering

Rahul Samyal
, T. L. Dora
, Raman Bedi
, Radha Raman Mishra

School of Engineering

Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

In this work, the role of microwave energy on the microstructural evolution of microwave heat-treated DMLS-processed SS316L specimens was investigated using EBSD analysis. Microwave heat treatment (MWHT) resulted in the formation of finer grains with preferentially aligned orientations compared to conventional heat treatment (CHT). MWHT reduced the ferrite phase by 20.54%, whereas CHT showed a reduction of 55.65% relative to the as-built condition. The uniform and volumetric heating in MWHT contributed to reduced local strain and refined grain structure. Additionally, MWHT achieved these microstructural improvements with approximately 64% lower energy consumption compared to CHT. The results indicate that microwave-assisted heat treatment is an energy-efficient approach for tailoring microstructure in additively manufactured SS316L.

Original language	English
Article number	140820
Journal	Materials Letters
Volume	418
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140820
Publication status	Published - 1 Sep 2026

Keywords

EBSD
Laser powder bed fusion
Microwave energy
SS316L

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10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140820

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title = "Microstructural evolution in microwave heat-treated 316 L stainless steel developed using direct metal laser sintering",

abstract = "In this work, the role of microwave energy on the microstructural evolution of microwave heat-treated DMLS-processed SS316L specimens was investigated using EBSD analysis. Microwave heat treatment (MWHT) resulted in the formation of finer grains with preferentially aligned orientations compared to conventional heat treatment (CHT). MWHT reduced the ferrite phase by 20.54\%, whereas CHT showed a reduction of 55.65\% relative to the as-built condition. The uniform and volumetric heating in MWHT contributed to reduced local strain and refined grain structure. Additionally, MWHT achieved these microstructural improvements with approximately 64\% lower energy consumption compared to CHT. The results indicate that microwave-assisted heat treatment is an energy-efficient approach for tailoring microstructure in additively manufactured SS316L.",

keywords = "EBSD, Laser powder bed fusion, Microwave energy, SS316L",

author = "Rahul Samyal and Dora, \{T. L.\} and Raman Bedi and Mishra, \{Radha Raman\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2026",

month = sep,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140820",

language = "English",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Microstructural evolution in microwave heat-treated 316 L stainless steel developed using direct metal laser sintering

AU - Samyal, Rahul

AU - Dora, T. L.

AU - Bedi, Raman

AU - Mishra, Radha Raman

PY - 2026/9/1

Y1 - 2026/9/1

N2 - In this work, the role of microwave energy on the microstructural evolution of microwave heat-treated DMLS-processed SS316L specimens was investigated using EBSD analysis. Microwave heat treatment (MWHT) resulted in the formation of finer grains with preferentially aligned orientations compared to conventional heat treatment (CHT). MWHT reduced the ferrite phase by 20.54%, whereas CHT showed a reduction of 55.65% relative to the as-built condition. The uniform and volumetric heating in MWHT contributed to reduced local strain and refined grain structure. Additionally, MWHT achieved these microstructural improvements with approximately 64% lower energy consumption compared to CHT. The results indicate that microwave-assisted heat treatment is an energy-efficient approach for tailoring microstructure in additively manufactured SS316L.

AB - In this work, the role of microwave energy on the microstructural evolution of microwave heat-treated DMLS-processed SS316L specimens was investigated using EBSD analysis. Microwave heat treatment (MWHT) resulted in the formation of finer grains with preferentially aligned orientations compared to conventional heat treatment (CHT). MWHT reduced the ferrite phase by 20.54%, whereas CHT showed a reduction of 55.65% relative to the as-built condition. The uniform and volumetric heating in MWHT contributed to reduced local strain and refined grain structure. Additionally, MWHT achieved these microstructural improvements with approximately 64% lower energy consumption compared to CHT. The results indicate that microwave-assisted heat treatment is an energy-efficient approach for tailoring microstructure in additively manufactured SS316L.

KW - EBSD

KW - Laser powder bed fusion

KW - Microwave energy

KW - SS316L

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105038238996

U2 - 10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140820

DO - 10.1016/j.matlet.2026.140820

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105038238996

SN - 0167-577X

VL - 418

JO - Materials Letters

JF - Materials Letters

M1 - 140820

ER -

Microstructural evolution in microwave heat-treated 316 L stainless steel developed using direct metal laser sintering

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Keywords

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