Investigation on the Tensile and Compressional Behavior of Inconel 625 Fabricated through Laser Powder Bed Fusion

Abstract

Laser powder-bed fusion (L-PBF) is one of the well-suited additive manufacturing methods for producing industrial components from Inconel 625; however, there is still lack of knowledge in the course of the mechanical properties of the products. In order to gain deeper knowledge on the tensile and compressional behavior of L-PBFed Inconel 625, eight sets of test coupons in two principal directions were manufactured through various process parameters and tested. The results show a correlation between mechanical properties and the value of volumetric energy density (VED), as well as direction-dependent properties. Fractography was also performed on the tensile specimens to investigate the evidence of failure within the fractured surface of tensile test coupons. According to the results, increasing the VED led to a higher mass density and higher tensile and compressional properties. Fractography analysis revealed a mixed brittle and ductile fracture mechanism in the majority of specimens in both directions, while the effect of structural defects was also significant. Compression results showed higher strength for L-PBFed specimens than the other AM-based methods.