Progress in the Understanding of the Microstructure Evolution of Direct Laser Fabricated TiAl

Abstract:

With the introduction of TiAl in aircraft jet engines, there is an increasing demand for the evaluation of novel processing routes for gamma titanium aluminides such as additive manufacturing (AM). A Ti-47Al-2Cr-2Nb powder material has been used as feedstock for laser fabrication of 3D samples by means of “Selective Laser Melting” (SLM) and “Direct Metal Deposition” (DMD). A number of processing parameters including laser power, laser scan rate, powder feed rate, have been varied to evaluate their effects on the material soundness. Optimised conditions can significantly reduce the crack sensitivity for this relatively low ductility material. In particular, crack-free experimental conditions have been identified by using additional heating strategies, thus limiting built-up residual stresses during fast cooling. The different samples have been examined using optical and scanning electron microscopy in the as-built condition. The non-equilibrium cooling conditions generate ultra-fine and metastable structures exhibiting high microhardness values. A range of post-heat treatments have been performed to relieve the residual stresses and to tailor more uniform microstructures. Conventional heat treatments in the α+γ two-phase domain or in the α single phase domain have been successfully used to fully restore homogeneous microstructures either duplex or fully lamellar. A comparison is made with microstructures of both laser treated materials and of conventionally processed materials.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 879)
• Pages: 1939-1944
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.879.1939
• Online since: November 2016
• Authors: Marc Thomas*
• Keywords: Direct Metal Deposition, Gamma Titanium Aluminide, Heat Treatment, Selective Laser Melting

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