Tensile mechanical behavior of additively manufactured 316L austenitic stainless steels in liquid lead-bismuth eutectic and in air

• No liquid metal embrittlement was observed in any of the three 316L steels tested in LBE at 350 °C, regardless of processing method. • LPBF 316L steel achieved the highest yield strength (420–435 MPa) owing to nanosized dislocation cell structures, but exhibited markedly lower ductility (~19%). • PEP 316L steel had the lowest strength due to massive residual micropores, yet maintained ductility comparable to cast 316L (~40–43%). • These findings support the potential use of additively manufactured 316L steels in LBE-cooled fast reactors, while highlighting the critical role of microstructural defects in mechanical performance.