Influence of Crack Plane Orientation on the Fracture Toughness of 316L Stainless Steel Produced by Binder Jetting

Binder jetting, an indirect additive manufacturing technique based on powder processing, comprises two fundamental stages: the deposition of a liquid binder to create a green structure and a densification stage through thermal treatments, which includes curing, debinding, and sintering procedures. The microstructural evolution during these thermal processes is a determining factor for the mechanical behavior and properties of the material. In this study, tensile tests were performed according to the ASTM E8/E8M standard, and fracture tests were conducted according to the ASTM E1820 standard on 316L stainless steel specimens processed by binder jetting. Two different crack plane orientations were tested to study their influence on mechanical performance. Furthermore, microstructural analysis highlighted the role of residual porosity in providing a direct correlation with the observed fracture toughness values. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the structure–property relationships in binder-jetted metals and offer pathways for enhancing their mechanical reliability in engineering applications.