How Additive Manufacturing Can Aid the Oil, Gas, and Chemical Industry: Corrosion-Proofing by Infusion of Interstitial Solute, Exemplified for Alloy 22
AM (additive manufacturing) is a rapidly developing field for rapid prototyping and producing near-net-shape products that are impossible to produce by conventional methods.
While there is a large body of active research on the production and properties of AM parts produced by a variety of methods, research into the application of thermochemical post-treatments to printed components is still in its infancy. The goal is to eliminate the deleterious effects that inherent surface defects have on AM parts, especially surface-reaching voids and crevices, as well as segregation of specific atom species to the surface of printed parts.
In this article, Swagelok proves the concept of corrosion proofing of AM alloy parts by low-temperature infusion of interstitial solute for the example of Alloy 22 parts made by LPBF (laser powder-bed fusion). For post-processing of these parts, the company employed its newly developed process of LTNC-SRP (low-temperature nitrocarburisation by solid-reagent pyrolysis). The results highlight how this new process can specifically address problems inherent to alloy parts made by AM.
Download this white paper from Swagelok today to find out more.