High Strength Aluminium Alloys in Laser-Based Powder Bed Fusion – a Review

Abstract

Despite the difficulties of processing high strength aluminium alloys in laser-powder bed fusion additive manufacturing, there is a growing interest in these types of alloys. In this paper, a brief literature review is presented, aiming to give an overview of different approaches to enable laser-powder bed fusion additive manufacturing of high strength aluminium alloys in the 2xxx and 7xxx series. Relevant literature was collected and analysed. The analysis found that adjusting the scan speed is the most investigated approach for aluminium alloys in both the 2xxx and 7xxx series. Layer thickness is the least investigated approach, and never investigated for alloys in the 7xxx series.