Metal Additive Manufacturing Conference - MAMC 2023

In high-tech industries such as nuclear and aeronautic fields, metal components are exposed to harsh environments that can cause their early failure. Preventive maintenance is therefore necessary in order to prevent any risks. This kind of intervention is costly, time consuming and can require the shutdown of the facilities. Moreover, replacements induce a need for spare parts and increase waste. In a circular economy approach, it would be relevant to focus on extending the service life of metal components and propose new eco-designed solutions for smart management of maintenance. The proposed solution consists in embedding luminescent particles in strategic locations of metallic parts by additive manufacturing. Thus, photoluminescence could be an effective non-destructive testing method to monitor the degradation of the material. Additive manufacturing is a suitable process for this kind of operation as it allows the development of advanced materials without adding additional process steps. In this study, Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) technology was used to incorporate Ce3+ doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG:Ce) into a 316L stainless steel matrix. These luminescent pigments were successfully embedded within the metal matrix as assessed and identified by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Chemical composition and microstructure of both materials were analyzed by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The microstructural changes of 316L matrix related to the incorporation of luminescent particles have been analyzed by backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and microhardness tests. Influence of process parameters (laser power, scanning speed) on the size, morphology and incorporation rate of phosphors was also studied. Photoluminescence spectra (PL) showed that interactions between the metal matrix and the luminescent particles induce structural, physical and chemical modifications that reveal new optical features. Finally, the first tests in corrosive conditions have been carried out to monitor corrosion rate of 316L