Heterogeneity of deformation, shear band formation and work hardening behavior of as-printed AlSi10Mg via laser powder bed fusion

Abstract

The deformation heterogeneities and micro-to macro-structural evolution of shear bands were thoroughly characterized and assessed in correlation with the work hardening behavior of laser powder bed fused as-built AlSi10Mg using compression testing at 78 and 293 K in a wide range of constant strain rates. Using the Kocks-Mecking model, work hardening behavior was correlated with the evolved microstructure and rate-controlling deformation mechanisms. It was found that initial work hardening (athermal hardening rate) is dependent on the strain rate at both 78 and 293 K, where it increases by a transition from shearing to looping of nano-precipitates in the 10−2-10−1 s−1 strain rate range. Stages II (hardening stage) and Stage III (dynamic recovery stage) of work hardening were also observed and their dependence on temperature and strain rate was assessed. The former includes the dislocation-obstacle interactions resulting in work hardening, whereas the latter consists of recovery processes where density of dislocations decreases. Shear banding was reported for higher strain rates manifesting in micro- and then evolving into macro-shear bands with deformation, which led to the increase in the dislocation recovery rate in Stage III of work hardening. Compressive work hardening mechanisms were discussed for both 78 and 293 K temperatures.