Abstract
The AlSi10Mg alloy is characterized by a high strength-to-weight ratio, good formability, and satisfying corrosion resistance; thus, it is very often used in automotive and aerospace applications. However, the main limitation of using this alloy is its low yield strength and ductility. The equal-channel angular pressing is a processing tool that allows one to obtain ultrafine-grained or nanomaterials, with exceptional mechanical and physical properties. The purpose of the paper was to analyze the influence of the ECAP process on the structure and hardness of the AlSi10Mg alloy, obtained by the selective laser melting process. Four types of samples were examined: as-fabricated, heat-treated, and subjected to one and two ECAP passes. The microstructure analysis was performed using light and electron microscope systems (scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope). To evaluate the effect of ECAP on the mechanical properties, hardness measurements were performed. We found that the samples that underwent the ECAP process were characterized by a higher hardness than the heat-treated sample. It was also found that the ECAP processing promoted the formation of structures with semicircular patterns and multiple melt pool boundaries with a mean grain size of 0.24 μm.
Highlights
A great deal of data from the literature highlight the fact that the selective laser melting (SLM) process allows the fabrication of complex geometries, which is favorable for custom-made parts
On the basis of this, it can be concluded that the equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) process provided a higher density value, in comparison to the value obtained for as-building samples and samples after the heat-treatment process
ECAP eliminated the pores of the SLM-AlSi10Mg alloy; the density increased from 2.51 to 2.65 g/cm3
Summary
A great deal of data from the literature highlight the fact that the SLM process allows the fabrication of complex geometries, which is favorable for custom-made parts. The geometry of the fabricated part can affect local heat transfer conditions and, in effect, can affect solidification, defects, and microstructure—small elements will reach a higher temperature during melting as compared to larger parts, given constant power and speed [4,5]. This can provide for more defects in smaller parts of the detailed geometry. This raises the question as to whether it is possible for processing–microstructure–property relationship widows to develop in order to intensify the grain refinement of SLM elements and to obtain better mechanical properties?
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