Microstructural Characteristics and Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Cu–10Sn Alloys by Laser Powder Bed Fusion

Authors

Abhishek Mehta, University of Central Florida
Le Zhou, Marquette UniversityFollow
Holden Hyer, University of Central Florida
Thinh Huynh, University of Central Florida
Binghao Lu, University of Central Florida
Erica J. Drobner, University of Central Florida
Sun Hong Park, POSCO Technical Research Laboratories
Yongho Sohn, University of Central Florida

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-24-2022

Publisher

Elsevier

Source Publication

Materials Science and Engineering A

Source ISSN

0921-5093

Original Item ID

DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2022.142775

Abstract

Cu – 10 wt% Sn (Cu–10Sn) alloy specimens were additively manufactured by varying the laser powder bed fusion (LBPF) processing parameters, e.g., laser power (200–350 W) and laser scan speed (100–1400 mm/s) at a fixed hatch spacing (0.12 mm) and slice thickness (0.03 mm), to examine their effects on the density, melt pool structure, and microstructure. Microstructural characteristics of the most dense sample were examined using electron microscopy (SEM, TEM) and X-ray Diffraction. The grains in the top-most melt pool layer showed a fan-like structure, whereas all other areas showed small columnar structure aligned nearly parallel to the build direction due to multiple melt-solidification cycles. The high cooling rates associated with LPBF yielded a fine dendritic microstructure, which consisted of primary α1(Cu) dendrites and a mixture of α2(Cu) and δ (Cu41Sn11) phases in the interdendritic region. In addition, formation of thin laths (∼120 nm) was observed by TEM presumably due to diffusionless martensitic transformation from the high temperature β phase associated with fast cooling rates. The primary α1(Cu) dendrite and α2(Cu) within the interdendritic region contained low (∼6.6 wt%) and high (∼11.9 wt%) Sn concentration, respectively. Mechanical properties in tension of the dense Cu–10Sn alloy was measured in as-built condition, i.e., σUTS = 564 MPa, σY = 387 MPa, El = 26%; these are significantly superior to the properties determined in previous LPBF investigations and as-cast Cu–10Sn alloy, most likely due to contributions from Hall-Petch and dislocation strengthening mechanisms. Solidification path in LPBF fabricated Cu–10Sn alloy was also revealed from an extensive TEM investigation.

Comments

Accepted version. Materials Science and Engineering: A, Vol. 832 (March 24, 2022): 142775. DOI. © 2022 Elsevier. Used with permission.

Recommended Citation

Mehta, Abhishek; Zhou, Le; Hyer, Holden; Huynh, Thinh; Lu, Binghao; Drobner, Erica J.; Park, Sun Hong; and Sohn, Yongho, "Microstructural Characteristics and Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Cu–10Sn Alloys by Laser Powder Bed Fusion" (2022). Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications. 312.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/mechengin_fac/312