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Laser-Based Additive Manufacturing Processability and Mechanical Properties of Al-Cu 224 Alloys with TiB Grain
Esmaeil Pourkhorshid1, Paul Rometsch2, X-Grant Chen1
1Department of Applied Science, University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, Saguenay, QC G7H 2B1, Canada.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 13, 2025
Summary
Adding TiB grain refiners to Al-Cu 224 alloys eliminates hot tearing during selective laser melting (SLM). This significantly enhances mechanical properties and processability for advanced additive manufacturing applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Metallurgy
- Additive Manufacturing
Background:
- High-strength aluminum alloys often exhibit high hot tearing susceptibility, limiting their use in additive manufacturing processes like selective laser melting (SLM).
- Understanding microstructural evolution and its impact on mechanical properties is crucial for optimizing alloy performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of titanium diboride (TiB) grain refiner additions on Al-Cu 224 alloys.
- To evaluate the impact on microstructural evolution, hot tearing susceptibility, and mechanical properties during SLM.
Main Methods:
- Laser surface remelting was used to simulate rapid solidification conditions typical of SLM.
- Microstructural analysis was performed to observe grain morphology and size.
- Mechanical properties, specifically hardness, were measured after T6 heat treatment.
Main Results:
- TiB grain refiner additions effectively eliminated solidification cracks in the simulated SLM process.
- Grain structure transformed from coarse columnar to fine equiaxed, with sizes reduced to 5.5 μm and 3.2 μm.
- Hardness increased significantly, reaching 117 HV and 130 HV, surpassing conventional alloys.
Conclusions:
- TiB grain refiners are a promising solution for improving the processability of Al-Cu 224 alloys in SLM.
- Enhanced microstructures and mechanical properties, including superior hardness, were achieved.
- This approach addresses the critical challenge of hot tearing in high-strength aluminum alloys for additive manufacturing.
