{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]],"date-time":"2026-07-30T12:27:12Z","timestamp":1785414432823,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,27]],"date-time":"2026-04-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1777248000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Suzhou Major Science and Technology Achievement Transformation Project","award":["SZC202309"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["SZC202309"]}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001809","name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["52405399"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["52405399"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001809","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"award":["52405399"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["52405399"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/01h0zpd94","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Materials"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Metal Digital light processing (MDLP) offers high resolution and excellent surface quality, but the final properties of printed parts are highly dependent on post-processing. In this study, the effects of debinding, decarburization, and sintering on the shape fidelity, microstructure, and mechanical properties of MDLP-fabricated 316L stainless steel were systematically investigated. The optimal post-processing route consisted of debinding in an inert atmosphere, decarburization in air within 400\u2013600 \u00b0C, and sintering at 1370 \u00b0C for 4 h under flowing nitrogen. Under these conditions, the sintered parts achieved a relative density of 98.03 \u00b1 0.23%, hardness of 380.63 \u00b1 9.15 HV, elastic modulus of 213.47 \u00b1 5.5 GPa, tensile strength of 519.7 \u00b1 22 MPa, and elongation at fracture of 76.8 \u00b1 9.3%. Microstructural analysis showed that increasing the sintering temperature reduced porosity and smoothed the morphology of Cr-rich oxygen-containing second phase regions, thereby alleviating stress concentration and improving mechanical properties. This study provides an effective post-processing strategy for MDLP-fabricated 316L stainless steel and examines the microstructural origins of the observed property evolution.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ma19091769","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,28]],"date-time":"2026-04-28T07:49:36Z","timestamp":1777362576000},"page":"1769","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Post-Processing Optimization of MDLP-Fabricated 316L Stainless Steel: Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Properties"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"19","author":[{"given":"Zequn","family":"Wu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215021, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Weiwei","family":"Liu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215021, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hongzhi","family":"Zhou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Mechanical Engineering, Hunan Institute of Science and Technology, Yueyang 414015, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5332-1241","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Xing","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215021, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0558-045X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yao","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215021, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Qinghao","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215021, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Wenjie","family":"Xu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215021, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4180-9864","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Wenli","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215021, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7721-286X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zhanwen","family":"Xing","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215021, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"172","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compositesb.2018.02.012","article-title":"Additive manufacturing (3D printing): A review of materials, methods, applications and challenges","volume":"143","author":"Ngo","year":"2018","journal-title":"Compos. Pt. B Eng."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zhou, L., Miller, J., Vezza, J., Mayster, M., Raffay, M., Justice, Q., Al Tamimi, Z., Hansotte, G., Sunkara, L., and Bernat, J. (2024). Additive Manufacturing: A Comprehensive Review. Sensors, 24.","DOI":"10.3390\/s24092668"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"110008","DOI":"10.1016\/j.matdes.2021.110008","article-title":"Metal additive manufacturing in aerospace: A review","volume":"209","author":"Gradl","year":"2021","journal-title":"Mater. Des."},{"key":"ref_4","first-page":"104156","article-title":"High-resolution metal 3D printing via digital light processing","volume":"85","author":"Melentiev","year":"2024","journal-title":"Addit. Manuf."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e00343","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bprint.2024.e00343","article-title":"Top 10 directions in lithography 3D printing","volume":"40","author":"Melentiev","year":"2024","journal-title":"Bioprinting"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"177","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cirp.2020.04.069","article-title":"Development of an innovative, high speed, large-scaled, and affordable metal additive manufacturing process","volume":"69","author":"Nguyen","year":"2020","journal-title":"CIRP Ann.-Manuf. Technol."},{"key":"ref_7","first-page":"101897","article-title":"Digital light processing 3D printing of AlSi10Mg powder modified by surface coating","volume":"39","author":"Zhang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Addit. Manuf."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wang, J., Guo, J., Liu, Z., Cao, X., Bian, D., Cheng, J., Qian, S., and Yang, J. (2025). Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Digital Light Processing Printed AISI 316L Stainless Steel: Optimization of Slurry and Sintering Process. Addit. Manuf. Front., 4.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amf.2025.200245"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"498","DOI":"10.1016\/j.powtec.2021.01.049","article-title":"Slurry development for lithography-based additive manufacturing of cemented carbide components","volume":"383","author":"Rieger","year":"2021","journal-title":"Powder Technol."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1616","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jmrt.2024.01.237","article-title":"The effects of SLM process parameters on the relative density and hardness of austenitic stainless steel 316L","volume":"29","author":"Bakhtiarian","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Mater. Res. Technol.-JMRT"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wu, S., Tariq, U., Joy, R., Sparks, T., Flood, A., and Liou, F. (2024). Experimental, Computational, and Machine Learning Methods for Prediction of Residual Stresses in Laser Additive Manufacturing: A Critical Review. Materials, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/ma17071498"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"129","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scriptamat.2019.04.036","article-title":"Revealing hot tearing mechanism for an additively manufactured high-entropy alloy via selective laser melting","volume":"168","author":"Sun","year":"2019","journal-title":"Scr. Mater."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"444","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jmatprotec.2015.02.010","article-title":"Selective laser melting of stainless-steel\/nano-hydroxyapatite composites for medical applications: Microstructure, element distribution, crack and mechanical properties","volume":"222","author":"Wei","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Mater. Process. Technol."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106","DOI":"10.1007\/s12540-025-02034-2","article-title":"A Comprehensive Review on Laser Powder Bed Fusion Process of SS316L Mechanical Properties and Post-Processing","volume":"32","author":"Dinesh","year":"2026","journal-title":"Met. Mater. Int."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"141317","DOI":"10.1016\/j.msea.2021.141317","article-title":"Cryogenic mechanical properties of 316L stainless steel fabricated by selective laser melting","volume":"815","author":"Wang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Mater. Sci. Eng. A-Struct. Mater. Prop. Microstruct. Process."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1668","DOI":"10.1007\/s11837-022-05206-2","article-title":"Pitting Corrosion in 316L Stainless Steel Fabricated by Laser Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing: A Review and Perspective","volume":"74","author":"Voisin","year":"2022","journal-title":"JOM"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Aziz, U., McAfee, M., Manolakis, I., Timmons, N., and Tormey, D. (2025). A Review of Optimization of Additively Manufactured 316\/316L Stainless Steel Process Parameters, Post-Processing Strategies, and Defect Mitigation. Materials, 18.","DOI":"10.3390\/ma18122870"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"142108","DOI":"10.1016\/j.msea.2021.142108","article-title":"Effects of process parameters, debinding and sintering on the microstructure of 316L stainless steel produced by binder jetting","volume":"828","author":"Lecis","year":"2021","journal-title":"Mater. Sci. Eng. A-Struct. Mater. Prop. Microstruct. Process."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.1016\/j.powtec.2015.11.063","article-title":"Effects, of solid loading and cooling rate on the mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of powder injection molded 316 L stainless steel","volume":"289","author":"Raza","year":"2016","journal-title":"Powder Technol."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"84","DOI":"10.1016\/j.powtec.2016.03.039","article-title":"Powder injection molding of biocompatible stainless steel biodevices","volume":"295","author":"Aslam","year":"2016","journal-title":"Powder Technol."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mirzababaei, S., and Pasebani, S. (2019). A Review on Binder Jet Additive Manufacturing of 316L Stainless Steel. J. Manuf. Mater. Process., 3.","DOI":"10.3390\/jmmp3030082"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"114352","DOI":"10.1016\/j.matdes.2025.114352","article-title":"3D printing, debinding and sintering of stainless steel metamaterials via lithography metal manufacturing: Processing, microstructure and properties relationships","volume":"256","author":"Melentiev","year":"2025","journal-title":"Mater. Des."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112591","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mtcomm.2025.112591","article-title":"Mechanical and tribocorrosion properties of DLP-printed AISI 316L stainless steel","volume":"46","author":"Bian","year":"2025","journal-title":"Mater. Today Commun."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1920205","DOI":"10.1007\/s11431-025-2996-1","article-title":"Self-lubricating properties of digital light processing 3D printed porous AISI 316L stainless steel by impregnated PAO10 oil","volume":"68","author":"Guo","year":"2025","journal-title":"Sci. China Technol. Sci."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e2339368","DOI":"10.1080\/17452759.2024.2339368","article-title":"Unlocking multiscale metallic metamaterials via lithography additive manufacturing","volume":"19","author":"Melentiev","year":"2024","journal-title":"Virtual Phys. Prototyp."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1736","DOI":"10.1007\/s11661-013-1969-3","article-title":"Oxide Transformation in Cr-Mn-Prealloyed Sintered Steels: Thermodynamic and Kinetic Aspects","volume":"45A","author":"Hryha","year":"2014","journal-title":"Metall. Mater. Trans. A-Phys. Metall. Mater. Sci."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1281","DOI":"10.1515\/amm-2015-0114","article-title":"Oxide formation in metal injection molding of 316L stainless steel","volume":"60","author":"Jang","year":"2015","journal-title":"Arch. Metall. Mater."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"0865e3","DOI":"10.1088\/2053-1591\/ab239b","article-title":"Binder removal by a two-stage debinding process for powder injection molding Fe-50Ni alloy parts","volume":"6","author":"Ali","year":"2019","journal-title":"Mater. Res. Express"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"156589","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apsusc.2023.156589","article-title":"Microstructure evolution and mechanical behavior of SS316L alloy fabricated by a non-toxic and low residue binder jetting process","volume":"616","author":"Cai","year":"2023","journal-title":"Appl. Surf. Sci."},{"key":"ref_30","first-page":"103955","article-title":"Predictive binder jet additive manufacturing enabled by clean burn-off binder design","volume":"80","author":"Gilmer","year":"2024","journal-title":"Addit. Manuf."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"397","DOI":"10.1016\/S0924-0136(03)00772-6","article-title":"Rapid debinding of 316L stainless steel injection moulded component","volume":"140","author":"Omar","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Mater. Process. Technol."}],"container-title":["Materials"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1996-1944\/19\/9\/1769\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,28]],"date-time":"2026-04-28T08:03:39Z","timestamp":1777363419000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1996-1944\/19\/9\/1769"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,27]]},"references-count":31,"journal-issue":{"issue":"9","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5]]}},"alternative-id":["ma19091769"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ma19091769","relation":{},"ISSN":["1996-1944"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1996-1944","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,27]]}}}