Abstract
Laser additive manufacturing is a promising technology for producing tools with complex geometry. The tools for hot working applications typically require high thermal conductivity to reduce thermal stresses. However, the relationship between thermal conductivity and the unique microstructure created by Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) is not yet fully understood.In this study, we investigated the thermal conductivity of AISI M50 in the as-built and different heat-treated conditions. As-built samples exhibited anisotropy and low thermal conductivity. The low thermal conductivity can be improved after heat treatments by modifying the microstructure. Moreover, the influence of each microstructural characteristic was interpreted. Thereby, a correlation between thermal conductivity and microstructure can be addressed. With this knowledge, we proposed a suitable heat treatment concept for improving the thermal conductivity of additively manufactured tool steels.
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