Work

Effect of Laser Energy Density During LPBF on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Al–15Sn–5Pb Alloy

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Al–15Sn–5Pb (vol.%) alloy was fabricated by the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) method at laser scanning speeds of 0.8, 1.0, and 1.2 m/s and laser powers ranging from 70 to 130 W. The samples were synthesized from a mixture of elemental powders using an ONSINT AM150 3D printer under a flowing argon atmosphere. The structure and mechanical properties under compression tests of the produced material were investigated as a function of the volumetric laser energy density (E) during LPBF. It has been established that low laser energy density during LPBF results in incomplete melting of aluminum particles and a non-uniform distribution of soft inclusions within the material. Increasing the energy density ensures a significantly more uniform distribution of the phases, resulting in the formation of a fine-grained three-phase alloy. It was established that both the ductility and strength of the alloy improve with the increase in E until a critical value is reached. As a result, at E ≥ 48 J·mm−3, the ultimate strength of the alloy reaches 100 ± 5 MPa, and its deformation before fracture is 15 ± 1%. Substituting one quarter of the tin volume with lead results in a significant increase in the ductility of the LPBF-fabricated aluminum alloy.

Source: Materials

DOI: 10.3390/ma18235268

Authors: Nikolay M. Rusin, Alexander L. Skorentsev, Kirill O. Akimov, Vadim E. Likharev, Dmitry P. Il’yashchenko, Andrey I. Dmitriev

Institutions: Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Science, Tomsk Polytechnic University, National Research Tomsk State University

Language: English

Topic: Additive Manufacturing Materials and Processes

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137

Funder: Russian Science Foundation