Effect of AlSi10Mg0.4 long-term reused powder in PBF-LB/M on the mechanical properties
Journal article, 2021

Laser-based powder bed fusion (PBF-LB/M) is a well-established additive manufacturing (AM) process capable of producing high quality parts with excellent mechanical properties. Industrial applications of additively manufactured parts require the usage of fresh powder which makes the process expensive, especially in case of AM machines with enlarged build envelopes. Processing long-term reused powder fits to economic yields with the drawback of increased porosity and incorporated oxides. In this study, a detailed analysis of components made of virgin and long-term reused AlSi10Mg0.4 powder is provided. The experiments reveal that process parameters qualified for the virgin powder are not working offhand for the reused powder, as an increase of porosity from less than 1 % up to 3 % and a decline of tensile strength as well as yield strength of about 15 % are observed. The results indicate that powder degradation, which is based on the formation of hydroxides and oxides, has a significant impact on as-built microstructure as well as mechanical properties of additively manufactured parts. The amount of hydrogen and oxygen is measured for different powder conditions and the powder ageing process of AlSi10Mg0.4 is discussed in detail.

Powder bed fusion process

Powder degradation

Mechanical properties

Enlarged build envelope

Aluminum

Author

Tobias Fiegl

Neue Materialien Fürth GmbH

Martin Franke

Neue Materialien Fürth GmbH

Ahmad Raza

Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Materials and manufacture

Eduard Hryha

Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Materials and manufacture

Carolin Körner

University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU)

Materials and Design

0264-1275 (ISSN) 1873-4197 (eISSN)

Vol. 212 110176

Subject Categories

Ceramics

Manufacturing, Surface and Joining Technology

Chemical Process Engineering

DOI

10.1016/j.matdes.2021.110176

More information

Latest update

11/11/2021