Aging Response in Selective Laser Melted AlSi10Mg Alloy as Function of Distance from the Substrate Plate

摘要

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) builds a metallic part in a layer-by-layer mode with growth occurring along the vertical axis. Metallic powder layers are melted by a laser beam by programmed scan sequences inducing specific mechanical properties in the as-built samples according to process parameters. Post heat treatments are usually performed to optimise the mechanical behaviour. In this work, the effects induced by heat treatments at 175°, 200° and 225°C on SLMed bars of A110SiMg were investigated as function of distance from the substrate plate. The bars were 300 mm height and in the as-built condition, Vickers microhardness and tensile strength decreased along the built direction, while the elongation increased from the bottom to the top of the billet. After heat treatments, Vickers microhardness resulted lower of 10HV at the top of the bar compared to its bottom in contact with the hot substrate; microhardness decreased with time at constant temperature compared to the as-built. Tensile properties showed variations of 50 MPa and 1% elongation between the top and the bottom of the billet when aging was performed at 175°C for 4h; the strength and ductility gradients were reduced to 20 MPa and 0,5% respectively by increasing the aging time to 6h. Microstructure investigations performed by scanning electron microscopy confirmed the different evolution of Silicon particles and precipitated particles at different height of the bars.