This paper deals with the study of high-strength M300 maraging steel produced using the selective laser melting method. Heat treatment consists of solution annealing and subsequent aging; the influence of the selected aging temperatures on the final mechanical properties-microhardness and compressive yield strength-and the structure of the maraging steel are described in detail. The microstructure of the samples is examined using optical and electron microscopy. The compressive test results show that the compressive yield strength increased after heat treatment up to a treatment temperature of 480 °C and then gradually decreased. The sample aged at 480 °C also exhibited the highest observed microhardness of 562 HV. The structure of this sample changed from the original melt pools to a relatively fine-grained structure with a high fraction of high-angle grain boundaries (72%).

• Keywords
• aging, maraging steel, microhardness, microstructure, selective laser melting,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The research and development of modern metallic materials imparts not only the introduction of innovative alloys and compounds, but also the increasing lifetime of existing materials via optimized deformation processing. Among the essential features of progressive metallic materials used for modern applications are enhanced mechanical properties, but also other high-level functional characteristics, such as thermal-physical parameters, corrosion rate, and electric resistance. The properties of materials and alloys ensue from their structures, which can primarily be affected by the preparation/production process. The Special Issue "Mechanical Properties in Progressive Mechanically Processed Metallic Materials" was established to present recent developments and innovations particularly in the engineering field. The Special Issue comprises papers dealing with modern materials, such as metallic composites and pseudoalloys, as well as developments in various processing technologies.

• Keywords
• functional properties, mechanical processing, mechanical properties, metallic systems, structural phenomena,
• Publication type
• Editorial MeSH