Microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of new Co-free maraging steel produced by wire arc additive manufacturing

In this work, P-MIG is used as additive process, a new low-cost Co-free maraging steel wire is used as raw material to additive manufacturing block component, and the microstructure and mechanical properties of the component is investigated. The microstructure of the component is composed of martensite and austenite, and the closer to the bottom, the more serious the elemental segregation and the more austenite content. From the top to the bottom the high-angle grain boundaries increase and the grain size decrease, the difference of the heat dissipation condition and the thermal cycle are the reasons for this phenomenon. The texture of austenite is mainly Cube texture, and the texture of martensite is Rotated Cube texture and Goss texture. The tensile strength of XD, YD, ZD three directions is 1172 ± 15 MPa, 1021 ± 7 MPa, 1139 ± 16 MPa, respectively, impact toughness is 64.7 ± 1.6 J/cm2, 51.1 ± 5.6 J/cm2, 51.4 ± 3.1 J/cm2, respectively, TRIP effect occurs in the process of tensile, the main mode of fracture in tensile and impact is toughness fracture. The microhardness decreases gradually from bottom to top, which is due to the short-lived aging strengthening by thermal cycle, the change of grain size and GND density. The results of the work reveal the successful application of the new low-cost Co-free maraging steel wire in WAAM and provide an important reference for the adjustment of additive process, subsequent heat treatment and the adjustment of wire composition.