Selective Laser Melting and Remelting of Pure Tungsten

Abstract

The processing of pure tungsten encounters a substantial challenge due to its high melting point and intrinsic brittleness. Selective laser melting (SLM) technique is gaining popularity and offers an excellent processing approach for refractory metals. Herein, dense pure tungsten specimens are produced by optimizing SLM processing parameters. The mechanical property of the SLM‐produced tungsten with an ultimate compressive strength of about 1200 MPa, which is obviously superior to that reported in other literature, is achieved. The increased laser energy input is instrumental in raising density and surface roughness of tungsten specimens. Interestingly, additional remelting of processed layers during SLM improves the surface quality and the microstructure and achieves the highest relative density (98.4% ± 0.5%). After laser remelting, the surface roughness is reduced by 28% and a large number of fine grains are obtained. The flow of fluids caused by remelting plays a decisive role in the formation of fine grains and the defect level. Therefore, these findings offer a new insight into SLM of pure tungsten.