Reproducibility of High-Throughput Sample Properties Produced by a High-Temperature Molten Metal Droplet Generator

Saeedeh Imani Moqadam,Nicole Wielki,Michael Baune,Daniel Meyer,Ingmar Bösing,Arne Thomann,Carsten Heinzel,Nils Ellendt

doi:10.3390/met10030297

Saeedeh Imani Moqadam, Nicole Wielki + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/met10030297

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Abstract

A high-throughput method for the discovery of structural materials requires a large number of samples with highly reproducible properties. We propose using spherical micro-samples, which can be quickly produced by molten metal single droplet processes with high geometrical reproducibility. However, geometrical reproducibility does not automatically yield in the reproducibility of specific properties that are governed by the microstructure and thermal history of the samples. This work evaluates the reproducibility of two different steels (AISI D3 and 5140) in their as-synthesized state without additional heat treatment. By determining a set of well-established high-throughput descriptors by electrochemical analysis, particle-oriented peening, and micro machining, we show that high reproducibility can be achieved. Additionally, the determined properties correlate well with their austenitic (AISI D3) and martensitic (AISI5140) state. The AISI D3 shows an improved corrosion resistance, increased cutting forces during machining, and a higher deformation during particle-oriented peening. The reproducibility of the sample synthesis indicates that this type of sample is well suited for high-throughput methods to find new structural materials.

Highlights

High-throughput methods for material development allow for the efficient exploration of completely unknown search domains in material research
A high-throughput sample for structural materials should be small on one hand in order to achieve high efficiency, and large enough in all three spatial dimensions on the other hand to represent the microstructure in the sample volume, enabling the determined properties to be mapped onto bulk material
Spherical micro-samples, which can be synthesized in large numbers in a short period of time by a drop-on-demand process, are considered as producible sample forms without directional dependence of the properties. For such spherical micro-samples, we have developed a process in previous works [11], through which a reproducible droplet generation at high melt temperatures of up to 1600 ◦ C is possible for the first time

Summary

Introduction

High-throughput methods for material development allow for the efficient exploration of completely unknown search domains in material research. A high-throughput sample for structural materials should be small on one hand in order to achieve high efficiency, and large enough in all three spatial dimensions on the other hand to represent the microstructure in the sample volume, enabling the determined properties to be mapped onto bulk material. This is not possible with the thin-film techniques established for functional materials [2]

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