功率对EIGA制备3D打印用TC4合金粉末特性的影响

与传统的雾化制粉技术不同,电极感应熔炼气体雾化(EIGA)技术是采用预合金棒料为电极,无坩埚感应加热,熔化后直接滴落雾化区被惰性气体雾化的技术.该技术由于在熔炼过程中液态金属与坩埚不接触,有效地减少了钛合金粉末中的夹杂物,改善了合金粉末的质量.本文利用自主设计制造的EIGA制粉设备,采用激光粒度分析仪、扫描电镜(SEM)、X射线衍射仪(XRD)等分析手段,研究了不同功率参数对雾化制备TC4合金粉末的粒度分布、组织形貌、空心球等的影响.研究表明:EIGA法制备的TC4合金粉末整体球形度均较好,空心球缺陷较少,空心球率低于3%.熔炼功率较低时,粗颗粒粉末较多,且存在一定比例不规则的棒形和哑铃状粉末颗粒;当功率提高到62 k W时,细粉比例明显提高,不规则形状的粉末颗粒基本消失.随着功率的升高,粉末中的氧含量呈增加趋势,但仍基本保持在0.08%~0.10%较低范围内.功率为56 k W时,粉末松装密度最好,为2.686 g/cm3,松装密度比为60.63%,符合激光3D打印用TC4钛合金粉末松装密度比要求.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of high power diode laser (HPDL) treated cast aluminium alloys

The appliance and development of modern technologies in the areas of surface engineering can be extended by laser surface treatment, especially using high power diode laser (HPDL) for remelting, feeding and/or alloying. The purpose of this work was to determine technological and technical conditions for tungsten carbide (WC) ceramic powder feeding into the surface layer of the laser treated Al–Si–Cu cast aluminium alloys with high power diode laser, as well as to investigate the microstructure and ceramic powder particle distribution in the surface layer. Special attention was devoted to monitoring of the layer morphology of the investigated material and on the particle occurred. Light and scanning electron microscopy as well as X‐Ray diffraction were used to characterize the microstructure of the remelted zone. A wide range of laser powers was choose and implicated by different process speed rates. Also one powder in form of tungsten carbide was used for feeding with the middle particle size of 80 µm. As the main findings there was found that, the obtained surface layer is without cracks and defects as well as has a comparably higher hardness value compared to the non remelted material. The hardness value increases according to the laser power used so that the highest power applied gives the highest hardness value in the remelted layer. Also the distribution of the tungsten carbide particles is good, but there are still possibilities for further modelling. The major purpose of this work is to study the effect of a high power diode laser melting on the cast Al–Si–Cu alloys structure to provide application possibilities for automotive and aviation industry.     

镁合金激光选区熔化研究进展

镁合金作为最轻的金属结构材料,在汽车制造、生物医疗等领域具有极大的应用潜力。激光选区熔化成形镁合金具有高效的制备性能、良好的成分均匀性、优异的力学性能和耐腐蚀性能,因此激光选区熔化成为一种重要的镁合金制备和改性方法。对近几年激光选区熔化镁合金的研究进展进行了综述,从激光工艺参数(激光类型、体能量密度、激光功率、扫描速度、扫描模式、层厚、扫描间距、气氛控制与进粉速度)和粉体状态(粉末形状、粒径分布、粉末对激光束能量吸收率、粉末化学成分)2个方面讨论了该工艺的关键技术;按照纯镁、非稀土镁合金体系、稀土镁合金体系的分类,对激光选区熔化成形镁及镁合金的致密度与微观结构、力学性能与耐腐蚀性能进行了总结;分析了工艺参数与合金成分两方面对该工艺成形镁合金缺陷的影响。为减少激光选区熔化成形镁合金缺陷、均匀化晶粒、溶解硬脆二次相或析出强化相进而改善合金的结构与性能,许多研究对激光选区熔化成形镁合金进行了热等静压、固溶热处理和时效热处理,总结了上述处理方式对AZ体系、WE体系与Mg-Gd体系镁合金的改善效果。最后展望了激光选区熔化成形镁及镁合金在各领域的应用前景与未来可以进行研究的方向。     

Numerical and experimental study of molten pool behaviour and defect formation in multi-material and functionally graded materials laser powder bed fusion

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) of multi-material and functionally graded materials (FGM) has attracted significant research interest due to its ability to fabricate components with superior performance compared with those manufactured with single powder material. However, the forming mechanisms of various defects remain unknown. In this paper, a DEM-CFD model was first established to obtain an in-depth understanding of this process. It was discovered that the defects including partially melted and un-melted Invar36 powder were embedded in the lower level of the powder layer; this was attributed to the low laser absorptivity, low melting point and high thermal conductivity of the Cu10Sn powder. Inter-layer defects were more likely to occur with an increased powder layer thickness. In addition, the scanned track width was found related to an equilibrium achieved among the thermal properties of the powder mixture. Process parameters were optimised to obtain FGM structures without defects in both horizontal and vertical directions. Invar36/Cu10Sn samples were fabricated with a multi-material LPBF system using different mixed powder contents and laser volumetric energy densities (VEDs). By increasing the VED, fewer defects were observed between the interface of two processed powder layers, which had a good agreement with the modelling results.     

Development of a stochastic approach for fatigue life prediction of AlSi12 alloy processed by selective laser melting

Parts manufactured by selective laser melting (SLM) process possess unique features in terms of surface roughness, microstructure, residual stresses as well as defect distribution. These defects are responsible for failure of the parts in functional applications. When fatigue loading is applied, these defects are the dominant cause of crack initiation, resulting in scatter of fatigue properties. This scatter occurs due to interacting phenomena like defect size, location as well as the magnitude and type of load. For the purpose of investigating the effect of defects on fatigue life performance of AlSi12 manufactured by selective laser melting, a procedure was developed based on the weakest-link theory and Weibull's probability density function. Using various destructive and non-destructive techniques, defects, including remnant porosity and surface roughness, have been characterized in amount, size and location. Therefore fatigue life prediction, relying on equations constituted from crack propagation properties, was carried out. Predicted fatigue life and Weibull's statistical parameters were used to compare the effect of both defect types on fatigue reliability of AlSi12 produced by SLM. The most probable fatigue life for a sample was interpreted based on Weibull probability density function with respect to maximum probability of occurrence. The prediction of numerous possible values enabled an estimation of fatigue scatter to be made. Thus, the findings of this novel approach enabled conclusions about strength and reliability of different SLM AlSi12 configurations and gave a prelude towards application-oriented design of SLM components.     

激光增材制造镍基复合材料界面连接机制与断裂行为

基于颗粒增强镍基复合材料优异的结构/功能特性，在航空航天、核电军工和电子电工等领域有着广泛的应用前景。本文选用机械球磨混粉+激光选区熔化方法 (SLM)制备了碳化钨(WC)颗粒增强IN718复合材料(WC/IN718)，对复合材料内部异质界面连接机制、强化机制和断裂行为进行了分析。研究结果表明：随着WC颗粒含量的增加(0wt%～20wt%)，试件成形良好，WC颗粒均匀分布在基体内部，异质界面处无缺陷产生，界面处产生了贫碳的W₂C层和碳化物层，基体合金主要呈柱状晶生长。由于熔池内部能量密度分布不同，低温位置WC颗粒的断裂方式为先形成界面反应层后由热应力引起断裂，高温位置WC颗粒优先发生断裂，断裂成小尺寸颗粒，后与熔化的基体合金形成界面反应层，弥散分布在基体内部。随着WC颗粒含量的增加，复合材料的强度呈现升高的趋势，而断裂韧性降低，抗拉强度最高可达1 280 MPa，强化机制主要为载荷传递强化，断裂机制为WC颗粒的脆性断裂和基体合金的韧性断裂。     

Synthesis,microstructure and mechanical properties of ZrB2 nano and microparticle reinforced copper matrix composite by in situ processings

Copper matrix composite reinforced with ZrB₂ particles was prepared by in situ reaction in two different ways: by mechanical alloying and subsequent hot pressing, i.e. mechanical alloying and followed by laser melting process. Microstructural changes during mechanical alloying, hot pressing and laser melting of Cu, Zr and B powder mixtures were studied using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. In particular, changes in the Cu particle size, structural parameters of the powder mixtures and formation of new ZrB₂ and CuZr phases during hot pressing, i.e. laser melting were investigated. The mechanisms of in situ formation of reinforcement particles and hardening effects in the copper composite were also studied. Large supersaturation which is possible with laser melting process results in homogeneous nucleation of CuZr precipitates and the presence of finer CuZr precipitates and ZrB₂ reinforcements in the Cu matrix. This affected on significantly higher degree of Cu matrix hardening compared to composites obtained by mechanical alloying and hot pressing.     

On selective laser melting of ultra high carbon steel: Effect of scan speed and post heat treatment

Selective laser melting is a laser‐based additive manufacturing process applying layer manufacturing technology and is used to produce dense parts from metallic powders. The application of selective laser melting on carbon steels is still limited due to difficulties arising from carbon content. This experimental investigation aims at gaining an understanding of the application of the process on ultra high carbon steel, which is a special alloy with remarkable structural properties suitable for different industrial applications. The feedstock ultra high carbon steel (2.1% C) powder, 20 μm to 106 μm was prepared by water atomizing technique. This powder was used for the selective laser melting to build specimens 10×10×40 mm in dimensions. To decrease the thermal stresses during layer by layer building, laser scanning was done through 5×5 mm random island patterns while layer thickness was 30 μm. Laser beam diameter, maximum power output, layer thickness and scan speed range were 0.2 mm, 100 W, 30 μm and 50–200 mm/s respectively. The process was done inside high purity nitrogen environment, with less than 0.5% oxygen content. The results illustrate the influence of scan speed from 50 to 200 mm/s on product geometry and dimensions, surface roughness, internal porosity and cracks, microstructure and surface hardness. The effect of post heat treatment by heating and holding for one hour (annealing) at different temperatures of 700°C, 750°C, 950°C is studied. The results indicate that selective laser melting is able to produce near to 95% density of ultra high carbon steel parts with acceptable geometry and surface quality. Porosity cracks, and microstructure formed during the process could be controlled through proper selection of process parameters and post heat treatment. Industrial ultra high carbon steel products can be rapidly fabricated by selective laser melting.     

A Multiscale Understanding of the Thermodynamic and Kinetic Mechanisms of Laser Additive Manufacturing

Selective laser melting (SLM) additive manufacturing (AM) technology has become an important option for the precise manufacturing of complex-shaped metallic parts with high performance. The SLM AM process involves complicated physicochemical phenomena, thermodynamic behavior, and phase transformation as a high-energy laser beam melts loose powder particles. This paper provides multiscale modeling and coordinated control for the SLM of metallic materials including an aluminum (Al)-based alloy (AlSi10Mg), a nickel (Ni)-based super-alloy (Inconel 718), and ceramic particle-reinforced Al-based and Ni-based composites. The migration and distribution mechanisms of aluminium nitride (AlN) particles in SLM-processed Al-based nanocomposites and the in situ formation of a gradient interface between the reinforcement and the matrix in SLM-processed tungsten carbide (WC)/Inconel 718 composites were studied in the microscale. The laser absorption and melting/densification behaviors of AlSi10Mg and Inconel 718 alloy powder were disclosed in the mesoscale. Finally, the stress development during line-by-line localized laser scanning and the parameter-dependent control methods for the deformation of SLM-processed composites were proposed in the macroscale. Multiscale numerical simulation and experimental verification methods are beneficial in monitoring the complicated powder-laser interaction, heat and mass transfer behavior, and microstructural and mechanical properties development during the SLM AM process.