Laser powder bed fusion of 316L stainless steel/Al2O3 nanocomposites: Taguchi analysis and material characterization

•316L stainless steel nanocomposites strengthened by Al2O3 nanoparticles prepared by LPBF.•Leading LPBF processing parameters were optimized using the Taguchi method in correlation with indentation response.•Soundness and integration of the consolidated cubic products were assessed.•The synergetic contributions of alumina incorporation and layers deposition were studied on the austenitic solidified microstructure.•In situ decomposition of alumina particles and resulting nano-phases during LPBF were characterized.