An atomistic investigation on the sintering behaviour of AlSi10Mg nanoparticles during the laser powder bed fusion process

Abstract

The laser powder bed fusion process represents an innovative manufacturing technique within the context of Industry 4.0. This method involves creating components in a layered manner by melting or compacting together individual powder particles. The process of compacting multiple-component metal powders significantly affects the mechanical and physical characteristics of the final product. In this particular investigation, an atomistic model is constructed to gain a deeper understanding of how AlSi10Mg metal powders with multiple components fuse together. This model is employed to examine how the compacting behavior changes for AlSi10Mg particles that are 4 nm in size at varying sintering temperatures: specifically, 800 K, 950 K, and 1100 K. The growth of interparticle connections (referred to as “necks”) and the ratio of shrinkage are quantified over time as the compacting process takes place. The results of the simulations reveal that increasing the sintering temperature leads to a wider neck, expanding from 51.81 Ã… to 53.63 Ã…. Correspondingly, the shrinkage ratio also increases as the sintering temperature rises. These findings offer insights into enhancing the manufacturing conditions and material formulations for multi-component nano powders.