Abstract
In this study, a combination of Al–12Si and Al–20Si (Al–(12-20)Si) alloys was fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM) as a result of increased component requirements such as geometrical complexity and high dimensional accuracy. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the SLM Al–(12-20)Si in as-produced as well as in heat-treated conditions were investigated. The Al–(12-20)Si interface was in the as-built condition and it gradually became blurry until it disappeared after heat treatment at 673 K for 6 h. This Al–(12-20)Si bi-material displayed excellent mechanical properties. The hardness of the Al–20Si alloy side was significantly higher than that of the Al–12Si alloy side and the disparity between both sides gradually decreased and tended to be consistent after heat treatment at 673 K for 6 h. The tensile strength and elongation of the Al–(12-20Si) bi-material lies in between the Al–12Si and Al–20Si alloys and fracture occurs in the Al–20Si side. The present results provide new insights into the fabrication of bi-materials using SLM.
Highlights
The characteristic properties of aluminum, such as high strength and stiffness-to-weight ratio, good formability, good corrosion resistance, and recycling potential make it an ideal candidate for automobile and aerospace applications [1,2]
The selective laser melting (SLM) samples were subsequently heat-treated at 473 ± 1 K, 573 ± 1 K and 673 ± 1 K for 6 h and cooled to room temperature by furnace cooling
The average width of the melt pool is approximately 204 μm, and the penetration depth is about 87 μm along the Al–20Si side. This suggests that Al–20Si exhibits elongated melt pools with a typical length-to-width aspect ratio of about 2.35:1
Summary
The characteristic properties of aluminum, such as high strength and stiffness-to-weight ratio, good formability, good corrosion resistance, and recycling potential make it an ideal candidate for automobile and aerospace applications [1,2]. The performance requirements of different parts of any particular component are diverse and can be demanding based on the stringent requirements for reduced waste and/or minimal use of resources. Such stringent usage and heavy demands often lead to the use of Materials 2019, 12, 2126; doi:10.3390/ma12132126 www.mdpi.com/journal/materials
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