Enhancing the geometry accuracy and mechanical properties of wire arc additive manufacturing of an Al-5%Mg alloy through longitudinal magnetic field influence

Abstract

To address the issues of low deposition efficiency, poor geometric accuracy, and high porosity in wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) specimens, a longitudinal alternating current (AC) magnetic field-assisted WAAM method was employed. The results showed that the introduction of the longitudinal AC magnetic field significantly enhanced the geometric accuracy of the specimens. After magnetic field assistance, the porosity of the WAAM Al-5%Mg alloy specimens decreased from 0.372 % to 0.016 %. The grain size decreases from 71.95 μm to 56.3 μm, with a notable increase in the proportion of small grains (D < 30 μm) from 27.06 % to 44.57 %. The longitudinal tensile strength increased from 243 MPa to 260 MPa, while the transverse tensile strength increased from 232 MPa to 257.7 MPa. Moreover, the longitudinal and transverse tensile strengths tended to be isotropic. Therefore, the longitudinal AC magnetic field has a significant impact on the performance of AlMg alloy WAAM specimens. This study presents novel strategies and theoretical guidance for enhancing the efficiency and component performance of aluminum alloy WAAM technology.