A357 Alloy by LPBF for Industry Applications

Area of Science:

• Additive Manufacturing
• Materials Science
• Metallurgy

Background:

• Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) is an advanced additive manufacturing technique.
• A357 aluminum alloy is suitable for industrial applications due to its properties.
• Optimizing process parameters and post-processing is key for high-performance components.

Purpose of the Study:

• Define process parameters for A357 alloy components using LPBF.
• Evaluate post-processing heat treatments on microstructure and mechanical properties.
• Achieve maximum hardness and strength in LPBF-fabricated A357 components.

Main Methods:

• Defined LPBF process parameters for high-density components.
• Fabricated samples in as-built, stress-relieved, and T6-treated conditions.
• Investigated microstructural, hardness, and tensile properties.

Main Results:

• Achieved 99.9% density and 116 HV0.1 hardness in as-built A357 samples.
• Demonstrated that stress-relieving followed by T6 treatment maintains hardness.
• Identified optimized solution and aging parameters for T6 treatment.

Conclusions:

• LPBF is a viable method for producing dense A357 alloy components.
• Post-processing, including stress-relieving and T6 treatment, is essential for industrial applications.
• T6 treatment after stress-relieving yields comparable hardness with a more isotropic microstructure.