Electrochemical deposition of metal ions in porous laser sintered inter‐metallic and ceramic preforms

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to establish a scientific understanding for electrochemical infiltration of laser sintered (LS) preforms.Design/methodology/approachElectrochemical deposition techniques were modified to induce infiltration of nickel ions inside porous LS structures with deposition on pore walls.FindingsThis novel process is feasible and has the potential to produce fully dense parts. Both conductive and non‐conductive preforms can be infiltrated by this method.Research limitations/implicationsRemoval of trapped fluids and gases inside the porous structure is one of the major challenges in the described electrochemical infiltration process.Practical implicationsThis work enables low‐cost production of structural parts. It expands the application base for additive manufacturing, especially laser sintering technology.Social implicationsThe novel process carried out in this research is energy efficient when compared to state‐of‐the‐art vacuum‐melt infiltration.Originality/valueThe proposed process is a novel method for facilitating room‐temperature infiltration of porous LS preforms.

Selective Laser Sintering/Melting

“…Among polymers, epoxy is the preferred infiltrant because of its strength and is used to infiltrate polymers, metals, and ceramics (80) while the other infiltrant is wax (81). This requirement of infiltrant in some cases could be overcome by adopting electrochemical infiltration (83). In some cases, infiltrant and structural material are basically the same material but infiltrant is a lower melting point alloy (82).…”

Tribological properties of metal matrix composite coatings produced by electrodeposition of copper

“…One approach to metal filling is to use an electrolytic deposition method in which an electrolyte is infiltrated into the porous preform, followed by electrodeposition of a metallic species internally within the preform. 5 Electrodeposition provides a versatile and convenient route to the realisation of controlled coatings of metal matrix composites. Electrodeposition has been used in the deposition of composite coating using metals such as nickel, copper, chromium and cobalt as matrix materials.…”

Systematic parameter analysis for selective laser melting (SLM) of silver-based materials.

“…where represents surface tension, W p width of the pool, and density of the liquid [21]. The next effect that was noted by Rombouts et al [22] is the Marangoni effect, which can be estimated using the following equation:…”