ARCI develops crack-free stainless steel-superalloy bi-metallic structure by additive manufacturing
Researchers at ARCI Hyderabad, an autonomous institute of DST, built a crack-free bi-metallic structure of stainless steel SS316L on Inconel IN718 using laser-based powder bed fusion, the Ministry of Science and Technology said on 2 July 2026.
Summary
Researchers at the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, built a crack-free bi-metallic structure by depositing stainless steel SS316L directly onto an Inconel IN718 superalloy plate using laser-based powder bed fusion (PBF-LB/M) additive manufacturing, the Ministry of Science and Technology said on 2 July 2026. Conventional welding of the two alloys is difficult because of differences in composition, melting temperature and thermal expansion. The structure showed no visible cracks or porosity at the interface and can help reduce the use, and import, of expensive superalloys.
Key facts
- Institute
- ARCI, Hyderabad (autonomous institute of DST)
- Technique
- Laser-based powder bed fusion (PBF-LB/M)
- Materials
- Stainless steel SS316L on nickel superalloy Inconel IN718
- Benefit
- Less use and import of superalloys
Practice MCQs 1 questions
Which institute developed a crack-free SS316L-IN718 bi-metallic structure using laser-based powder bed fusion additive manufacturing (July 2026)?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — ARCI, Hyderabad
The research was done by the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad, an autonomous institute of DST.