The study of unstable plastic flow in porous steel 316L samples after compression deformation at room temperature with different strain rates was carried out. The samples were obtained from ASTM F3184 medical grade steel powder by digital metallurgy using a Renishaw AM 400 laser 3D printer. Serrations on the stress-strain curves and strain localization bends were found, which were associated with the Portevin-Le Chatelier effect and testified instability of the plastic flow of the material under the deformation process. Deformation twins were observed in the structure of deformed samples.
Keywords: 3D printing; austenitic steel; deformation instability; twins.