Spattering and oxidation phenomena during recycling of low alloy steel powder in Laser Powder Bed Fusion

•The influence of powder recycling, spattering and oxidation on the degradation of low alloy steel powder in Laser Powder Bed Fusion was studied.•Powder recycling led to an increase in oxygen content while other elements remained largely unchanged.•Oxygen content and ejecta formation increased for each recycling step.•A detailed map of ejecta classification was presented, featuring various ejecta types formed during processing.•Particle size increased with reuse due to agglomeration and the accumulation of ejecta in the material.