Improving the Fatigue Strength of Laser Powder Bed-Fused AISI M3:2 by Hot Isostatic Pressing

Laser additive manufacturing enables the one-step fabrication of complex parts. However, pores and carbide networks, which are not avoidable from the laser powder-bed fusion (LPBF) process, deteriorate the fatigue strength significantly. Hot isostatic pressing (HIP) with integrated heat treatment is a powerful post-treatment that densifies the material and modifies the microstructure. Herein, AISI M3:2 samples are produced by LPBF and then are either austenitized, quenched, and tempered in a HIP unit under pressure or are only hardened and tempered in a vacuum oven. The corresponding microstructure is analyzed by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The fatigue strength is determined by rotation bending tests. Fracture surfaces are observed under scanning electron microscopy for failure analysis. While both post-treatments lead to similar microstructure, the fatigue strength is significantly improved by the HIP process.     

Influence of Preheating Temperature on Microstructure Evolution and Hardness of High-Speed Steel AISI M50 Processed by Laser Powder Bed Fusion

The laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technology has been involved in the tooling industry to produce tools with complex geometry and integrated functions. However, tool steels with high carbon content tend to crack due to the thermal stresses during the LPBF process. One solution is increasing the powder bed temperature to avoid large thermal gradients. In the present study, the influence of the preheating temperature on microstructure and corresponding hardness is systematically investigated. With the help of time–temperature–transformation diagram, the phase evolution during the LPBF process is systematically explained. AISI M50 samples are produced by LPBF from room temperature to a preheating temperature of 650 °C. Higher preheating temperatures shift the optimal laser parameter window to lower volume energy densities. A cellular/dendritic microstructure formed during the rapid solidification with retained austenite is located at the interdendritic regions. Moreover, a high preheating temperature reduces the retained austenite fraction, specifically from 39% without preheating to 7.6% at 650 °C preheating temperature.     

Indentation Plastometry for Study of Anisotropy and Inhomogeneity in Maraging Steel Produced by Laser Powder Bed Fusion

This work concerns the use of profilometry-based indentation plastometry (PIP) to obtain mechanical property information for maraging steel samples produced via an additive manufacturing route (laser powder bed fusion). Bars are produced in both “horizontal” (all material close to the build plate) and “vertical” (progressively increasing distance from the build plate) configurations. Samples are mechanically tested in both as-built and age-hardened conditions. Stress–strain curves from uniaxial testing (tensile and compressive) are compared with those from PIP testing. Tensile test data suggest significant anisotropy, with the horizontal direction harder than the vertical direction. However, systematic compressive tests, allowing curves to be obtained for both build and transverse directions in various locations, indicate that there is no anisotropy anywhere in these materials. This is consistent with electron backscattered diffraction results, indicating that there is no significant texture in these materials. It is also consistent with the outcomes of PIP testing, which can detect anisotropy with high sensitivity. Furthermore, both PIP testing and compression testing results indicate that the changing growth conditions at different distances from the build plate can lead to strength variations. It seems likely that what has previously been interpreted as anisotropy in the tensile response is in fact due to inhomogeneity of this type.     

Effect of Hot Isostatic Pressing on Fatigue Properties of Laser Melting Deposited AerMet100 Steel

The ultra-high strength steel AerMet100 was fabricated by laser melting deposition (LMD) process. The effect of hot isostatic pressing (HIP) on high-cycle fatigue properties of the LMD AerMet100 steel was investigated, and the influence of defects on fatigue behavior was discussed. Results showed that the LMD AerMet100 steel had fine directionally solidified cellular-dendrite structure and coarse columnar prior austenite grains. Metallurgical defects such as gas pore and lack-of-fusion porosity were produced during the laser deposition process. After HIP treatment, the number and size of metallurgical defects had remarkably decreased. Moreover, high-cycle fatigue properties of the alloys after HIP treatment were superior to the as-deposited alloys.     

Thermal Fatigue Behavior of AISI H13 Hot Work Tool Steel Produced by Direct Laser Metal Deposition

Direct laser metal deposition (DLMD) is an additive manufacturing technique getting growing attention thanks to the possibility of producing very complex parts in a short time and in a cost-effective manner. The possible applications of this technology are tools with conformal cooling channels and claddings for dies and molds reparation. One of the damaging mechanisms of tools is thermal fatigue (TF) cracking, leading to surface deterioration and, consequently, the processed parts. Herein, the TF behavior of DLMD-H13 submitted to two different heat treatments, namely direct tempering (T) and quenching and tempering (QT), is investigated. T does not significantly change the solidification microstructure after DLMD, whereas QT produces a more homogenous tempered martensite microstructure. A customary laboratory test is developed to induce TF damage under a cyclic temperature variation between 630 and 60 °C. The results evidence that the T-H13 has a slightly better TF resistance with respect to QT-H13 due to the higher tempering resistance of T-H13 with respect to QT-H13. Thus, according to TF test results, direct tempering can be preferred to quench and tempering since the elimination of quenching can decrease the costs of production as well as distortions-related issues, increasing the competitiveness of DLMD.     

真空脱气对粉末冶金Ti2AlNb合金力学性能的影响

采用无坩埚感应熔炼超声气体雾化法制备了成分为Ti-22Al-24Nb-0. 5Mo(原子分数,x/%)的预合金粉末,并对预合金粉末的化学成分、表面状态及流动性等进行了表征。通过包套热等静压工艺制备了粉末冶金Ti2AlNb合金,研究了真空脱气对粉末冶金Ti2AlNb合金力学性能的影响。结果表明,超声气体雾化法制备的Ti2AlNb合金粉末化学成分批次稳定性好;从粉末填充的工艺性能方面考虑,热等静压成形应选取粒度小于250μm以下的全粒度分布预合金粉末;真空脱气处理可减少粉末冶金Ti2AlNb合金的孔隙缺陷,提升合金拉伸性能的稳定性和高温持久寿命。     

High Power Laser Powder Deposition Repair of AISI 4340 Steel in Aircraft Applications

High power laser powder deposition (LPD) has been used to investigate the potential of repairing damaged aero-grade high strength steel.Metallurgical analysis was performed to analyze the integrity of the clad layer.A 4kW fiber laser was used to deposit two separate alloys (AISI 4340 and AISI 420 stainless steel) on an AISI 4340 steel substrate and metallurgical analysis was performed to analyze the integrity of the clad layer.No microcracks was observed on the clads,but porosity and high dilution was observed on most clads.However,microstructural analysis showed a crack and porosity free clad layer with low dilution can be achieved for some laser conditions.     

Evaluation of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Laser Beam Welded AISI 409M Grade Ferritic Stainless Steel

 The microstructure analysis and mechanical properties evaluation of laser beam welded AISI 409M ferritic stainless steel joints are investigated. Single pass autogeneous welds free of volumetric defects were produced at a welding speed of 3000 mm/min. The joints were subjected to optical microscope, scanning electron fractographe, microhardness, transverse and longitudinal tensile, bend and charpy impact toughness testing. The coarse ferrite grains in the base metal were changed into dendritic grains as a result of rapid solidification of laser beam welds. Tensile testing indicates overmatching of the weld metal is relative to the base metal. The joints also exhibited acceptable impact toughness and bend strength properties.     

Multiphase Microstructure Optimization to Enhance the Mechanical Properties of AISI M35 High-Speed Steel

It is crucial to conduct in-depth research on the cryogenic-treatment mechanism to promote the standardization and industrialization of cryogenic treatment in the high-speed steel (HSS) industry. In this study, the microstructure and mechanical properties (microhardness and impact toughness) of AISI M35 HSS after deep-cryogenic treatment (DCT) and conventional heat treatment (CHT) are investigated, and the microstructural characteristics at different stages of CHT and cryogenic treatment are studied. It is indicated in the results that DCT of the steel leads to the formation of fresh martensite from residual austenite, as well as the introduction of more dislocations due to plastic deformation. In addition, the deep-cryogenic-treated specimen that is tempered shows increased numbers of martensite blocks and secondary carbide precipitation. The carbides in the steel are mainly V-rich (MC), W–Mo-rich (M₆C), and Cr-rich (M₂₃C₆). The hardness of the deep-cryogenic-treated samples increases by approximately 50 HV₁ because of the transformation of residual austenite and dislocation strengthening. Furthermore, specimens that are both deep-cryogenic treated and tempered exhibit a 30% increase in impact toughness and a more uniform distribution in hardness, likely due to the more homogeneous precipitation of secondary carbides and refinement of martensite.     

Tailoring of Mechanical Properties of Indirect Hot Stamping Steel Tubes by Laser Assisted Local Rapid Heating

The effect of laser assisted local heating on the mechanical properties of a hot stamping steel tube was in-vestigated.A heated region with a spiral shape was generated on the surface of the tube by combining the linear movement of the laser and the rotation of the tube.The results of axial crush tests show that the laser assisted local heating can be effectively used to modify the mechanical performance of the tube.A microstructural analysis confirms that the laser locally induces a martensitic phase transformation in the heated region and results in inhomogeneous microstructures along the length of the tube.     

镍基粉末高温合金FGH95的组织和性能

论文讨论了FGH95氩气雾化粉末颗粒的凝固组织、合金相组成、表面化学成分;粉末经过热等静压后的显微组织与相组成、原颗粒边界碳化物的本质和形成机制;热等静压坯再经热挤压后合金组织的改善,以及用改进的最终热处理使合金获得良好的显微组织,以提高合金的高温的拉伸、持久断裂、低周疲劳性能。