Mechanical properties and energy release characteristics of additively manufactured 316L-Zr composite

Additive manufacturing has garnered significant attention as a novel material fabrication process. However, research on the additive manufacturing of energetic structural materials remains limited. In this study, 316L-Zr composite fragments with varying Zr contents were fabricated via laser powder bed fusion technology. The microstructure of the materials was analyzed, and quasi-static mechanical properties along with energy release characteristics were systematically investigated. Results demonstrate that the addition of Zr alters the microstructure and significantly increases material brittleness, while also inducing defect proliferation that adversely affects mechanical performance. Concurrently, elevated Zr content enhances energy release characteristics, yielding more uniformly distributed fragment clouds and more complete energy release reactions.