Physicochemical Studies of Al–Cu Alloy Powder and Material on Its Basis Produced under Nonoptimal Conditions of 3D Printing

Abstract

The surface structure and volume of a 3D article produced by the method of selective laser melting from a powder of the D-16 alloy has been studied. Using the XPS method, it has been determined that there is an Al2O3 layer on its surface and a metal alloy Al–Cu with a copper content of ~5% under it, which coincides with the data of energy dispersive X-ray analysis conducted on the initial powder by the method of scanning electron microscopy. Local areas with an increased copper content (up to 13 at %) were revealed at the boundaries of the crystal grains. A high porosity of the obtained material has been established, which resulted from the specifics of crystallization of the Al–Cu system’s alloys related to the transfer of substance along the interfaces, as a consequence of the presence of concentration, temperature and, surface tension gradients along with nonoptimal 3D printing conditions.