Hybrid material usage in TPMS forms fabricated by additive manufacturing, comparison of mechanical strength of lattices produced with AlSi10Mg and 7050

Abstract

Aluminum-based cellular structures are gaining significant attention across industries due to their lightweight and impressive mechanical properties. With the advent of additive manufacturing (AM), complex periodic cellular structures with varying unit cell forms, sizes, and volume fractions can be fabricated with relative ease. In this study, the mechanical strength of lattice structures fabricated using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) was investigated, with a focus on the effect of lattice geometry, material type, and outer wall incorporation. Results showed that both material choice and lattice geometry significantly impacted the mechanical properties of the structures. The highest ultimate strength of 400 MPa was observed in the schwartz-p geometry model created with Al 7050 LPBF alloy, with the addition of Zr identified as the key factor in enhancing its strength. The incorporation of an outer wall did not improve the strength of the structures, indicating the importance of material and geometry selection in optimizing mechanical performance. These findings provide valuable insights for the development and advancement of lattice structures in various applications and highlight the potential of additive manufacturing in this field.