Structure and magnetic properties of low-carbon 2% mn-doped steel manufactured by selective laser melting

The structure, magnetic and electrical properties of low-carbon 2% Mn-doped steel manufactured by selective laser melting (3D steel) and casting have been investigated. It was found that after normalization at 980$^\circ$C for 30 minutes, 3D steel becomes structurally similar to cast steel, while the hardness decreases by 70% compared to annealed 3D steel. Surface stresses are maximum in as-build 3D steel and three-hour annealing. The normalization process significantly reduced the level of residual stresses, which was confirmed via the X-ray structural analysis and magnetometric measurements. The coercive force and residual magnetic induction of normalized 3D steel are comparable with similar properties of cast normalized steel, which indicates similar structural and stress-strain states of cast and 3D steels.