Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-2021

Publisher

Springer

Source Publication

Journal of Phase Equilibria and Diffusion

Source ISSN

1547-7037

Abstract

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) has demonstrated its unique ability to produce customized, complex engineering components. However, processing of many commercial Al-alloys by LPBF remains challenging due to the formation of solidification cracking, although they are labelled castable or weldable. In order to elucidate this divergence, solidification cracking susceptibility from the steepness of the solidification curves, specifically |dT⁄dfs1⁄2|, as the fraction solidified nears 1 towards complete solidification, was calculated via Scheil–Gulliver model as a function of solute concentration in simple binary Al-Si, Al-Mg, and Al-Cu systems. Introduction of “diffusion in solid” into Scheil–Gulliver model resulted in a drastic reduction in the cracking susceptibility (i.e., reduction in the magnitude of |dT⁄dfs1⁄2|) and a shift in the maximum |dT⁄dfs1⁄2| to higher concentrations of solute. Overall, the calculated solidification cracking susceptibility correlated well with experimental observation made using LPBF AA5083 (e.g., Al-Mg) and Al-Si binary alloys with varying Si concentration. Cracking susceptibility was found to be highly sensitive to the composition of the alloy, which governs the variation of |dT⁄dfs1⁄2|. Furthermore, experimental observation suggests that the contribution of “diffusion in solids” to reduce the cracking susceptibility can be more significant than what is expected from an instinctive assumption of negligible diffusion and rapid cooling typically associated with LPBF.

Comments

Accepted version. Journal of Phase Equilibria and Diffusion, Vol. 42 (February 2021): 5-13. DOI. © 2021 Springer. Used with permission.

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