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Micro-masonry for 3D Additive Micromanufacturing
Published on: August 1, 2014
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Additive manufacturing of alloys with programmable microstructure and properties.
Shubo Gao1,2, Zhi Li3, Steven Van Petegem4
1School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Republic of Singapore.
Nature Communications
|October 31, 2023
Summary
This study introduces a novel method to engineer metal microstructures without mechanical deformation, using additive manufacturing. This technique allows for programmed recrystallization, creating advanced materials with superior performance.
Area of Science:
- Metallurgical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Additive Manufacturing
Background:
- Mechanical deformation is crucial for tailoring metal properties but is incompatible with additive manufacturing (AM) geometries.
- Traditional methods cannot modify microstructures in AM parts without compromising their shape.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for controlling microstructure in AM steel parts without mechanical deformation.
- To enable site-specific microstructural engineering for enhanced material performance.
Main Methods:
- Controlling dislocation density and thermal stability in steel alloys produced via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF).
- Manipulating the alloy's solidification structure to program recrystallization during heat treatment.
- Site-specific application of heat treatment to create heterogeneous microstructures.
Main Results:
- Achieved programmed recrystallization without mechanical deformation by controlling solidification structure.
- Created complex microstructures with combined recrystallized and non-recrystallized regions.
- Demonstrated that microstructural heterogeneity can lead to superior material performance compared to monolithic structures.
Conclusions:
- A novel strategy for microstructural engineering in AM metals has been established.
- This approach circumvents limitations of mechanical deformation in AM.
- Enables the design of high-performance metal parts with custom-engineered microstructures via AM.
