Project Partners
- Additive Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP)Advanced
- Manufacturing Design Centre, ST Engineering (Commercial Aerospace business)
- Funded by the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC)
The Breakthrough
This project successfully optimised 3D printing parameters for Stainless Steel 254 (SS254), a super austenitic stainless steel alloy known for:
- High corrosion resistance, especially in saltwater environments
- Superior resistance to stress-corrosion cracking
- High tensile strength comparable to nickel superalloys
- A cost-effective alternative to nickel and titanium alloys
Commercial Relevance
- Sectors: Maritime, oil & gas, offshore engineering
- Applications: Subsea structures, ship components, oilfield equipment
- Performance: Yield strength of 600 MPa, meeting global industry standards (API, ISO)
- Temperature Resistance: Withstands conditions from below -50°C to above 250°C
Key Highlights
- Process Optimisation: Over five parameter settings tested on EOS M290 printer, yielding an optimised “processing window” for consistent part quality and performance.
- Industrial Adoption: Results demonstrate additive manufacturing (AM) as a feasible and sustainable alternative to traditional SS254 manufacturing.
- Digital & On-Demand Potential: Supports creation of digital part inventories, enabling on-demand manufacturing of critical components for marine and offshore industries.
Quote
Dr. Zheng Guoying, Head, Advanced Manufacturing Design Centre, ST Engineering:
“This study marks a key step in bringing additive manufacturing to extreme environments. By validating SS254 printing parameters, we’ve shown AM can deliver sustainable, high-performance solutions for industries facing critical spare parts challenges.”
What’s Next
- Part qualification frameworks
- Scaling up production trials
- Collaboration with end-users for field validation
About AMIC
The Additive Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), jointly set up by the Singapore Economic Development Board and NYP, is a Centre of Excellence dedicated to advancing AM technology adoption and developing design-for-AM capabilities.
About ST Engineering
ST Engineering is a global technology, defence and engineering group with revenue of over S$11 billion (FY2024). Headquartered in Singapore and serving over 100 countries, ST Engineering ranks among the largest companies on the Singapore Exchange.