Superior resistance to hydrogen damage for selective laser melted 316L stainless steel in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell environment

The effect of hydrogen charging on the microstructure and durability of traditional wrought and selective laser melted 316L stainless steels (SLMed 316L SSs) in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell was studied. The results showed that superior resistance to hydrogen damage was achieved by the SLMed 316L SS due to minimal transformation of austenite into martensite and that corrosion preferentially occurred at the martensite sites. The defect...