• Post-process heat treatment at 850°C for 2 hours transforms the martensitic α' phase into a lamellar α+β structure, enhancing ductility from 6% to 14% elongation.
• The heat-treated alloy maintains a high ultimate tensile strength of 980 MPa, achieving a favorable strength-ductility balance.
• Fracture surface analysis indicates a shift from brittle to ductile fracture, improving overall material reliability.
• The proposed heat treatment is simple and cost-effective, making it readily implementable in industrial AM workflows.