Work

Microstructure and micromechanical properties of microcellular AlSi10Mg produced via LPBF

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing is an innovative process that opens the path for fabricating lightweight metallic structures with geometries that traditional manufacturing methods cannot achieve, such as metallic architected materials. However, LPBF-manufactured architected materials, particularly metallic lattices, have been reported to exhibit process-induced defects, including geometric imperfections, internal porosities in the matrix, and gradient microstructures. These defects prevent the materials from reaching their predicted properties.In this study, we investigate the microstructure and micromechanical properties of a microcellular AlSi10Mg alloy that has randomly distributed cylindrical pores, produced by LPBF using a general contour-hatch strategy. The influence of the LPBF scanning process is thoroughly examined, specifically focusing on the effect of contour scanning on the resulting alloy microstructure. This analysis employs both scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis, combined with nanoindentation tests.The findings indicate that different scanning sequences (i.e., contour and hatching) lead to variations in grain morphologies and crystallographic textures, resulting in highly heterogeneous micromechanical properties, such as nano-hardness. Finally, we compare the results of the microstructural analysis of the as-built AlSi10Mg microcellular alloy with those obtained from the same alloy after conventional T6-like heat treatment, highlighting the beneficial effects of heat treatments in mitigating microstructural heterogeneity.

Source: Materials Characterization

DOI: 10.1016/j.matchar.2026.116426

Authors: S. Leonardi, F. Brisset, P. Peyre, A-L. Helbert, M.G. Tarantino