Metastable cellular structures (MCSs) play a crucial role for the mechanical performance in concentrated alloys during non-equilibrium solidification process. In this paper, typifying the heterogeneous 316L stainless steel by laser additive manufacturing (LAM) process, we examine the microstructures in cellular interiors and cellular boundaries in detail, and reveal the interactions of dislocations and twins with cellular boundaries. Highly ordered coherent precipitates present along the cellular boundary, resulting from spinodal decomposition by local chemical fluctuation. The co-existences of precipitates and high density of tangled dislocations at cellular boundaries serve as walls for extra hardening. Furthermore, local chemical fluctuation in MCSs inducing variation in stacking fault energy is another important factor for ductility enhancement. These findings shed light on possible routines to further alter nanostructures, including precipitates and dislocation structures, by tailoring local chemistry in MCSs during LAM.
Keywords: 316L stainless steel; coherent precipitates; laser additive manufacturing; metastable cellular structures; stacking fault energy.