Low-Power Laser Powder Bed Fusion Processing of Scalmalloy®
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Materials
2.2. Production of LPBF Samples
2.3. Characterization
3. Results
3.1. LPBF Process Parameter Window
3.2. Phase Identification
3.3. As-Built Microstructure
3.4. As-Built Mechanical Properties
3.5. Heat Treatment Effect
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
- An exponential increase in densification level from 95.6 to 99.7% was observed by increasing the volumetric energy density. Above 175 Jmm−3, however, there was a relative density stabilisation with values above 99%.
- EBSD analyses revealed a similar preferential growing direction in the CG zone for both VED conditions, showing an orientation parallel to the build direction. However, a general finer microstructure was observed for the low-VED sample.
- The mechanical investigations led to an identical mean microhardness value of 105 HV for each processing condition and a slightly higher Young’s modulus value for the low-VED sample (74 GPa).
- The comparison of DSC signals between the as-built and the heat-treated conditions permitted us to verify the effectiveness of the heat treatment conducted at 325 °C for 4 h. An exothermic peak centred at 312 °C and related to the Al3(Sc, Zr) formation was detected only for the as-built sample. Therefore, the disappearance of the latter for the heat-treated sample suggested the accomplishment of precipitation reactions.
- Despite the EBSD analysis, a fairly marked grain size change was highlighted after the heat treatment; the growth was controlled by the inoculating action of precipitates. In addition, an impressive improvement in mechanical properties was noticed after the heat treatment with an increase in microhardness of more than 50%.
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Element (wt%) | Mg | Sc | Mn | Zr | Fe | Si | Other Elements |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scalmalloy® | 4.77 | 0.78 | 0.51 | 0.27 | 0.12 | 0.06 | <0.3 |
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Martucci, A.; Aversa, A.; Manfredi, D.; Bondioli, F.; Biamino, S.; Ugues, D.; Lombardi, M.; Fino, P. Low-Power Laser Powder Bed Fusion Processing of Scalmalloy®. Materials 2022, 15, 3123. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15093123
Martucci A, Aversa A, Manfredi D, Bondioli F, Biamino S, Ugues D, Lombardi M, Fino P. Low-Power Laser Powder Bed Fusion Processing of Scalmalloy®. Materials. 2022; 15(9):3123. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15093123
Chicago/Turabian StyleMartucci, Alessandra, Alberta Aversa, Diego Manfredi, Federica Bondioli, Sara Biamino, Daniele Ugues, Mariangela Lombardi, and Paolo Fino. 2022. "Low-Power Laser Powder Bed Fusion Processing of Scalmalloy®" Materials 15, no. 9: 3123. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15093123