成形工艺参数及后处理对激光粉末床熔融(LPBF)成形合金的缺陷/组织特征及力学性能具有显著影响。成形工艺参数的不当选择会在合金内部引入缺陷劣化其力学性能,而适当的后处理可调控合金的缺陷及微观组织,合理设计成形工艺参数及后处理制度对于保障LPBF成形构件的服役可靠性至关重要。因此,为探索优化LPBF成形GH3536合金性能的最佳成形工艺参数及后处理制度设计方案,本工作通过调控激光功率(205~305 W)及扫描速率(700~1200 mm/s)共制备5组不同激光能量密度(39~99 J/mm3)的GH3536合金,并对热处理态及热处理+热等静压态GH3536合金的缺陷/组织特征及室温拉伸性能开展了研究。结果表明,内部缺陷的存在使得39 J/mm3成形热处理态合金的强度及塑性较低且表现出明显的分散性,增大激光能量密度或进行热等静压处理均可使其塑性提升近50%。同时,热等静压处理可使其屈服强度同步提升15.3%。这主要是由于热等静压处理可闭合缺陷,对其强塑性提升效果更为显著;缺陷含量的降低使得60~99 J/mm3成形的热处理态合金的拉伸性能由缺陷和微观组织共同作用转变为由微观组织主导,此时热等静压处理对合金性能的影响效果减弱。热等静压处理后99 J/mm3成形的合金的塑性和屈服强度仅分别提升3.5%和8.4%。
Laser powder bed
fusion (LPBF) is a typical additive manufacturing technology that offers
several technical advantages such as high geometric freedom, few forming
processes, and the capability for large-scale customization. It provides a
reliable and feasible method for manufacturing complex metal components used in
fields such as aerospace, nuclear energy, and new energy. The development of
GH3536 alloy fabricated by LPBF is beneficial for improving the design of
complex, high-precision components. For alloys fabricated by LPBF, the process
parameters and post-treatment conditions influence defect formation,
microstructural characteristics, and mechanical properties. Improper selection
of process parameters can introduce internal defects into the alloy and deteriorate
its mechanical properties. By contrast, appropriate post-treatment can modify
the defects and microstructure of the alloy. Therefore, the rational design of
process parameters and post-treatment conditions is crucial for ensuring the
service reliability of components fabricated by LPBF. However, most studies
have investigated the influence of process parameters and post-treatment
independently, or first optimized the process parameters of the alloy to
minimize defects and then investigated the influence of post-treatment under
these optimized process parameters. A comprehensive design approach that
considers process parameters and post-treatment simultaneously is required to
achieve optimal performance in GH3536 alloy components fabricated by LPBF. In
this study, five groups of GH3536 alloys were fabricated under different laser
energy densities by regulating the laser
power (205–305 W) and scanning speed (700–1200 mm/s). Two post-treatment
conditions were designed: heat treatment and heat treatment followed by hot
isostatic pressing (HIP). The combined effects of process parameters and post-treatment
on defect formation, microstructural characteristics, and room-temperature
tensile properties of GH3536 alloys fabricated by LPBF were comprehensively
investigated. The results show that the presence of internal defects leads to
relatively low strength and plasticity, as well as a pronounced dispersion in
the alloy under heat-treated conditions fabricated at 39 J/mm3.
Increasing the laser energy density or performing HIP treatment can enhance its
plasticity by ~50%. Meanwhile, HIP also increases its yield strength by ~15.3%,
mainly because HIP eliminates internal defects, thereby improving the strength
and plasticity of the alloy. When the defect content is reduced, the tensile
properties of the heat-treated alloys fabricated at 60–99 J/mm3 transition from being jointly influenced by defects and microstructure to being
primarily dominated by microstructural factors. Consequently, the effect of HIP
treatment on tensile properties becomes less pronounced. After HIP treatment,
the plasticity and yield strength of the alloy fabricated at 99 J/mm3 increase by only 3.5% and 8.4%, respectively.