Development of a New Method to Fabricate Titanium Metal Matrix Composites via LENS with Improved Material Properties

A new fabrication method was developed utilizing laser near-net shaping (LENS) additive manufacturing technology to produce novel bulk metal matrix composites (MMC) with dual continuous immersed phases (DCIP) in order to improve material properties. The nature of using LENS to create DCIP samples has several advantages over alternative MMC fabrication methods which allow the creation of bulk parts with material property combinations not found in existing engineered or natural materials. DCIP samples were produced using near-β and α/β titanium alloys as the constituent phases. The sample’s microstructure is explored via optical microscopy and Vickers hardness testing. A methodology is presented to select processing parameters to avoid defects. The fabrication method and process development was found to be successful in creating a bulk samples free from processing defects. Vickers hardness testing revealed considerable variability in hardness values across the sample and within individual deposits suspected to be a result of substantial intermixing between adjacent hatches and layers. Further refinement of process parameters is expected to decrease intermixing and hardness variability. Epitaxial grain growth was attenuated by the DCIP morphology as compared to bulk laser deposited Ti-6Al-4V samples. Additional geometrical considerations are considered. The practicality, potential, and impact of scaling this process to an industrial scale is explored and discussed. Present and future possible uses of this technology are given.

Files

Metadata

Work Title Development of a New Method to Fabricate Titanium Metal Matrix Composites via LENS with Improved Material Properties
Access
Open Access
Creators
  1. Michael Policelli
Keyword
  1. beta
  2. profile
  3. titanium
  4. hatch spacing
  5. development
  6. additive
  7. MMC
  8. LENS
  9. parameter
  10. phase
  11. metal
  12. bead
  13. composite
  14. near net
  15. mass flow rate
  16. defects
  17. laser
  18. shape
  19. 3d printing
  20. matrix
  21. meltpool
  22. DCIP
  23. prototyping
  24. alpha
  25. contact angle
  26. rapid
  27. processing
  28. manufacturing
License Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States
Work Type Thesis
Acknowledgments
  1. Dr. Shawn Kelly
Publication Date August 19, 2011
Language
  1. English
Deposited January 21, 2014

Versions

Analytics

Collections

This resource is currently not in any collection.

Work History

Version 1
published

  • Created
  • Added fqz20ss50r_version1_2011Policelli.pdf
  • Added Creator Michael Policelli
  • Published