Abstract

Selective laser melting (SLM) process is the most widely used additive manufacturing technique due to its minimal post-processing machining while achieving geometrically complex parts. However, the production of most aluminum alloys through this technique has been a challenge due to the high reflectivity of the powder, wide solidification temperature between different alloying elements, and the formation of oxide scales in melt pools. This study was performed to better describe the microstructural behaviour of heat treated AlSi10Mg specimens produced by selective laser melting process. As-built samples were analyzed by optical and electron microscopes for metallography, while considering the specimen build orientation. Observation shows a distinctive cellular dendritic structure on the longitudinal section while obtaining a layered macrostructure on the transverse section. Characteristic microstructure of aged samples indicates clustering of Si precipitates along the grain boundaries while Al uniformly fills the matrix. Vicker’s micro-indentation hardness of as-built and solution treated samples recorded max hardness values for aged samples which is contributed by solid solution strengthening.

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