Characterization of oxides on atomized 316L stainless steel powders

Oxides in atomized 316L stainless steel powders critically affect their behavior during additive manufacturing and sintering processes, as well as the impact toughness of the final components. This study characterizes eight 316L powders produced by different atomization techniques, with varying particle size distributions and oxygen levels. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy were used to analyze the composition and morphology of the oxides. The results show that the particle surface oxides were primarily composed of (Cr₂O₃) and iron oxides, with nodules of manganese and silicon oxides observed in some samples. No silicon oxides were detected on the particles surface with oxygen levels around 200 ppm. In addition to surface oxides, internal oxide nanoparticles were also identified. The study demonstrates that the oxidation state is strongly influenced by the oxygen content, atomization process, and raw material properties, offering valuable insights for optimizing powder performance in metallurgical applications.