Abstract
Smart alloying and microstructural engineering mitigate challenges associated with laser-powder bed fusion additive manufacturing (L-PBFAM). A novel Al–Ni–Ti–Zr alloy utilized grain refinement by heterogeneous nucleation and eutectic solidification to achieve superior performance-printability synergy. Conventional mechanical testing cannot delineate complex micromechanics of such alloys. This study combined multiscale nanomechanical and microstructural mapping to illustrate mechanical signatures associated with hierarchical heat distribution and rapid solidification of L-PBFAM. The disproportionate hardening effect imparted by Al3(Ti,Zr) precipitates in the pool boundaries and the semi-solid zone was successfully demonstrated. Nanomechanical response associated with heterogeneity in particle volume fraction and coherency across melt pool was interpreted from nanoindentation force–displacement curves. The hardness map effectively delineated the weakest and strongest sections in the pool with microscopic accuracy. The presented approach serves as a high throughput methodology to establish the chemistry-processing-microstructure-properties correlation of newly designed alloys for L-PBFAM.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 18344 |
Journal | Scientific Reports |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2022 |
Funding
The authors acknowledge the Materials Research Facility at the University of North Texas for access to the electron microscopes. The contribution of Dr. Yongho Sohn and his research group to the development of the alloy is highly acknowledged. The DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory supported this work under Grant #W911NF-18-2-0067.