The Influence of Process Parameters and Build Orientation on the Creep Behaviour of a Laser Powder Bed Fused Ni-based Superalloy for Aerospace Applications

Abstract

Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM) is an innovative net shape manufacturing technology that offers the ability to produce highly intricate components not possible through traditional wrought and cast procedures. Consequently, the aerospace industry is becoming ever more attentive in exploiting such technology for the fabrication of nickel-based superalloys in an attempt to drive further advancements within the holistic gas turbine. Given this, the requirement for the mechanical characterisation of such material is rising in parallel, with limitations in the availability of material processed restricting conventional mechanical testing; particularly with the abundance of process parameters to evaluate. As such, the Small Punch Creep (SPC) test method has been deemed an effective tool to rank the elevated temperature performance of alloys processed through ALM, credited to the small volumes of material utilised in each test and the ability to sample material from discrete locations. In this research, the SPC test will be used to assess the influence of a number of key process variables on the mechanical performance of Laser Powder Bed Fused (LPBF) Ni-based superalloy CM247LC. This will also include an investigation into the influence of build orientation and post-build treatment on creep performance, whilst considering the structural integrity of the different experimental builds.

Influence of Laser Powder Bed Fusion Process Parameters on Voids, Cracks, and Microhardness of Nickel-Based Superalloy Alloy 247LC

“…This can be achieved, for example, by preheating the substrate, as proposed in [ 35 ]. Hot isostatic pressing (HIP) has also been demonstrated to close the cracks as seen from microstructure evaluations [ 13 , 25 , 36 ]. However, the creep life of HIPed L-PBF samples is very low, when compared to cast parts, even after undergoing solutioning and ageing heat treatments [ 2 ].…”

Researching the Properties of Samples Fabricated Using Selective Laser Melting from A High-Temperature Nickel-Based Alloy

“…The presented thermal treatment modes were selected based on the analysis of the literature in terms of the effect of thermal treatment on the mechanical properties of metals manufactured by AM [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. The authors of [26] found that the creeping flow properties of IN718 samples alongside the 3D printing direction were better compared to those alongside the scanning direction.…”

Mechanical properties of 3D printed macroscopic models of schwarzites

“…[ 1 ] This potential has been exploited in a plethora of areas, like economy, [ 2 ] education, [ 3 ] and, in especial, it has contributed to a new perspective in materials science. [ 4–6 ] One of the interests of this field is to improve and/or to tune the mechanical properties of materials for applications in automotive, [ 7,8 ] aerospace, [ 9 ] civil, [ 10 ] and biomedical [ 11 ] fields, among others. In this sense, nature is a good source of inspiration, where we have many examples that structures, shapes, topologies, and hierarchical geometrical designs are parameters of fundamental importance to determine the mechanical properties.…”