Development and Characterisation of Aluminium Matrix Nanocomposites AlSi10Mg/MgAl2O4 by Laser Powder Bed Fusion

Abstract

Recently, additive manufacturing techniques have been gaining attention for the fabrication of parts from aluminium alloys to composites. In this work, the processing of an AlSi10Mg based composite reinforced with 0.5% in weight of MgAl 2 O 4 nanoparticles through laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process is presented. After an initial investigation about the effect of process parameters on the densification levels, the LPBF materials were analysed in terms of microstructure, thermo-mechanical and mechanical properties. The presence of MgAl 2 O 4 nanoparticles involves an increment of the volumetric energy density delivered to the materials, in order to fabricate samples with high densification levels similar to the AlSi10Mg samples. However, the application of different building parameters results in modifying the size of the cellular structures influencing the mechanical properties and therefore, limiting the strengthening effect of the reinforcement.

Laser Powder Bed Fusion of a High Strength Al-Si-Zn-Mg-Cu Alloy

“…Similar cellular microstructures were observed by Wu et al who deeply investigated the complex formation mechanism of Al cells during the LPBF process of AlSi10Mg [24]. However, in the 50% 7075 case, the eutectic network results to be less continuous with respect to the AlSi10Mg one [5,25].…”

Characterization of Precipitation in 7055 Aluminum Alloy by Laser Ultrasonics

“…The size and distribution of the precipitated phase of the aluminum alloy have an effect on the recrystallization of the aluminum alloy [7,8]. The fine precipitation phase produces age strengthening, prevents the migration of dislocations, and thus increases the strength of the alloy, which is one of the ways to improve the properties of the alloy [9,10]. Many researchers have studied the relationship between the size of the precipitated phase and its mechanical properties [11].…”

A review on primary synthesis and secondary treatment of aluminium matrix composites

“…Pertinent among the findings was that the fabricated composites had cracks which the authors attributed to thermal stress and contraction stress due to rapid solidification during laser sintering. However, Marchese et al (2018) highlighted the need to critically elucidate the consequence of combining different parameters involved in the process of densification of powders to inhibit crack formation on the produced composites. Xi et al (2020) attempted the use of selective laser melting for the development of titanium diboride (TiB 2 ) reinforced AMCs.…”