Abstract
The paper gives an overview of selective laser melting (SLM) materials properties focusing on fatigue processes and their acoustic emission. The SLM technology belongs to rapid prototyping technologies and allows to quickly produce metal parts with complicated shapes. However, the mechanical properties of these materials are currently worse than those of conventionally produced materials. Acoustic emission method was used to compare fatigue behaviour of SLM and conventionally produced materials. Tested materials were aluminium alloy AW-2618A (AlCu2Mg1,5Ni), copper alloy AMPCOLOY® 944 (Cu7Ni2Si1Cr) and SLM materials with similar chemical composition. The results from all materials were compared. The fractographic and metallographic analysis were also conducted as a complement. In general, the fatigue life of SLM materials is worse than those of conventionally produced. The difference is much more significant in aluminium alloys than in copper alloys. It is caused by the big amount of internal defects and inhomogeneities in SLM materials.
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