Mechanical Properties of AlSi12 Alloy Manufactured by Laser Powder Bed Fusion Technique

Abstract

Mechanical properties of AlSi12 alloy, which was manufactured by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technique, were investigated. Some basic properties of fabricated objects such as density and tensile strength were clarified. The suitable laser irradiation condition of fabricated objects that had own high relative density was showed. The microstructure of fabricated objects with as-manufactured condition was also evaluated. The fabricated objects exhibited the similar ultimate tensile strength and the Young’s modulus according to the building directions, although other mechanical properties slightly differed. Mechanical properties of fabricated objects made by reused powders also exhibited the similar values of those manufactured by unused powders. In contrast, the mechanical properties excluding the Young’s modulus of the fabricated objects, which were annealed, differed due to annealing treatment. Furthermore, the mechanical properties excluding the Young’s modulus of the fabricated objects for the designed shapes manufactured to the tensile test specimen were smaller than those of the fabricated objects machined from LPBFed rectangular block. Therefore, the attention is necessary for the mechanical design of fabricated object through LPBF technique and that with annealing treatment, because of the difference in the mechanical properties between the object built as the designed shape and the object made from LPBFed bulk product.