Research Summaries

Back Characterization of Raw Powders Used for Additive Manufacturing of Metals and Alloys for Naval Applications

Fiscal Year 2017
Division Research & Sponsored Programs
Department Naval Research Program
Investigator(s) Luhrs, Claudia C.
Sponsor NPS Naval Research Program (Navy)
Summary The rapid development and implementation of Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques such as direct metal laser sintering processes (DMLS) promises to revolutionize the way we design, build, supply, use and maintain metal and alloy components. The use of AM methods allows complex alloy parts to be fabricated layer by layer in a relatively short time with no tooling required and with the optimal amount of raw material. Using only the right amount of material could save large amounts of resources (raw powders) when compared to other manufacturing methods, what means that reusing the particulates that stay in the system after the 3D printed part is removed is indispensable to generate other parts and be able to deliver on expected cost efficiency of DMLS.
However, in order to reduce risks associated with the process variability, there are aspects of AM methods that deserve further study: for example, the particles that are not attached to the final form and stay in the powder bed should be inspected to determine alterations in particle size distribution and other effects that the process might cause in the powder microstructure and chemical composition. The surrounding particles that do not sinter into the printed form might suffer a temperature rise, along other effects created by residual stress and reaction with oxygen/moisture in the environment when chamber is opened to remove printed part or by the wake of the laser pass.
The proposed work will focus on studying the characteristics/properties of diverse raw powders left after different DLMS passes and compare them with original features.
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Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal