Effect of Production Parameters on Additively Manufactured Hastelloy-X Alloy by Selective Laser Melting

Abstract

Additive Manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, enabled the fabrication of products with complex geometries, layer by layer. It was preferred in various sectors such as aerospace, biomedical, and automotive industries. The formation of different phases in superalloys affected their machinability and contributed to cracking in aerospace applications. Consequently, there has been significant attention on fabricating superalloys with enhanced mechanical and corrosion resistance at high temperatures, especially for parts used in the combustion chambers of turbine engines. Furthermore, microstructural control and preferred orientation (texture) were used in material development to improve performance. In this study, the production parameters of the Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technique for AM were investigated on Hastelloy X superalloys. The study aimed to optimize production parameters by examining the effects of variables such as laser scanning speed (V) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the material. The microstructures of the produced samples were analyzed using optical microscopy. Hardness measurements were conducted to assess the mechanical properties, while porosity and density, in relation to microstructure, were also examined.