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3 pages, 193 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Emerging Materials for Additive Manufacturing

by Swee Leong Sing and Wai Yee Yeong

Materials 2023, 16(1), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010127 - 23 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1501

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (AM) has grown and evolved rapidly in recent years [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Materials for Additive Manufacturing)

Research

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12 pages, 59589 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Selective Laser Melting and Mechanical Properties of Stainless Steels

by Daniel Gatões, Ricardo Alves, Bernardo Alves and Maria Teresa Vieira

Materials 2022, 15(21), 7575; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15217575 - 28 Oct 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2832

Abstract

Metal additive manufacturing (AM) has been evolving in response to industrial and social challenges. However, new materials are hindered in these technologies due to the complexity of direct additive manufacturing technologies, particularly selective laser melting (SLM). Stainless steel (SS) 316L, due to its [...] Read more.

Metal additive manufacturing (AM) has been evolving in response to industrial and social challenges. However, new materials are hindered in these technologies due to the complexity of direct additive manufacturing technologies, particularly selective laser melting (SLM). Stainless steel (SS) 316L, due to its very low carbon content, has been used as a standard powder in SLM, highlighting the role of alloying elements present in steels. However, reliable research on the chemical impact of carbon content in steel alloys has been rarely conducted, despite being the most prevalent element in steel. Considering the temperatures involved in the SLM process, the laser–powder interaction can lead to a significant carbon decrease, whatever the processing atmosphere. In the present study, four stainless steels with increasing carbon content—AISI 316L, 630 (17-4PH), 420 and 440C—were processed under the same SLM parameters. In addition to roughness and surface topography, the relationship with the microstructure (including grain size and orientation), defects and mechanical properties (hardness and tensile strength) were established, highlighting the role of carbon. It was shown that the production by SLM of stainless steels with similar packing densities and different carbon contents does not oblige the changing of processing parameters. Moreover, alterations in material response in stainless steels produced under the same volumetric energy density mainly result from microstructural evolution during the process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Materials for Additive Manufacturing)

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12 pages, 1947 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Metallization of Recycled Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymers Processed by UV-Assisted 3D Printing

by Alessia Romani, Paolo Tralli, Marinella Levi, Stefano Turri and Raffaella Suriano

Materials 2022, 15(18), 6242; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15186242 - 8 Sep 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2244

Abstract

An ever-growing amount of composite waste will be generated in the upcoming years. New circular strategies based on 3D printing technologies are emerging as potential solutions although 3D-printed products made of recycled composites may require post-processing. Metallization represents a viable way to foster [...] Read more.

An ever-growing amount of composite waste will be generated in the upcoming years. New circular strategies based on 3D printing technologies are emerging as potential solutions although 3D-printed products made of recycled composites may require post-processing. Metallization represents a viable way to foster their exploitation for new applications. This paper shows the use of physical vapor deposition sputtering for the metallization of recycled glass fiber-reinforced polymers processed by UV-assisted 3D printing. Different batches of 3D-printed samples were produced, post-processed, and coated with a chromium metallization layer to compare the results before and after the metallization process and to evaluate the quality of the finishing from a qualitative and quantitative point of view. The analysis was conducted by measuring the surface gloss and roughness, analyzing the coating morphology and thickness through the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrographs of the cross-sections, and assessing its adhesion with cross-cut tests. The metallization was successfully performed on the different 3D-printed samples, achieving a good homogeneity of the coating surface. Despite the influence of the staircase effect, these results may foster the investigation of new fields of application, as well as the use of different polymer-based composites from end-of-life products, i.e., carbon fiber-reinforced polymers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Materials for Additive Manufacturing)

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12 pages, 2609 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Properties of 3D Printed Concrete–Geopolymer Hybrids Reinforced with Aramid Roving

by Joanna Marczyk, Celina Ziejewska, Kinga Korniejenko, Michał Łach, Witold Marzec, Mateusz Góra, Paweł Dziura, Andina Sprince, Magdalena Szechyńska-Hebda and Marek Hebda

Materials 2022, 15(17), 6132; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15176132 - 3 Sep 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2074

Abstract

Three-dimensional concrete printing (3DCP) is an innovative technology that can lead to breakthrough modifications of production processes in the construction industry. The paper presents for the first time the possibility of 3D printing concrete–geopolymer hybrids reinforced with aramid roving. Reference concrete samples and [...] Read more.

Three-dimensional concrete printing (3DCP) is an innovative technology that can lead to breakthrough modifications of production processes in the construction industry. The paper presents for the first time the possibility of 3D printing concrete–geopolymer hybrids reinforced with aramid roving. Reference concrete samples and concrete–geopolymer hybrids composed of 95% concrete and 5% geopolymer based on fly ash or metakaolin were produced. The properties of the samples without reinforcement and samples with 0.5% (wt.) aramid roving were compared. The frost resistance tests, UV radiation resistance, and thermal conductivity were evaluated for samples that were 3D-printed or produced by the conventional casting method. Compressive strength tests were carried out for each sample exposed to freeze–thaw cycles and UV radiation. It was observed that after the frost resistance test, the samples produced by the 3D printing technology had a minor decrease in strength properties compared to the samples made by casting. Moreover, the thermal conductivity coefficient was higher for concrete–geopolymer hybrids than concrete reinforced with aramid roving. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Materials for Additive Manufacturing)

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14 pages, 5104 KiB

Open AccessArticle

TiNi-Based Bi-Metallic Shape-Memory Alloy by Laser-Directed Energy Deposition

by Yitao Chen, Cesar Ortiz Rios, Braden McLain, Joseph W. Newkirk and Frank Liou

Materials 2022, 15(11), 3945; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15113945 - 1 Jun 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2538

Abstract

In this study, laser-directed energy deposition was applied to build a Ti-rich ternary Ti–Ni–Cu shape-memory alloy onto a TiNi shape-memory alloy substrate to realize the joining of the multifunctional bi-metallic shape-memory alloy structure. The cost-effective Ti, Ni, and Cu elemental powder blend was [...] Read more.

In this study, laser-directed energy deposition was applied to build a Ti-rich ternary Ti–Ni–Cu shape-memory alloy onto a TiNi shape-memory alloy substrate to realize the joining of the multifunctional bi-metallic shape-memory alloy structure. The cost-effective Ti, Ni, and Cu elemental powder blend was used for raw materials. Various material characterization approaches were applied to reveal different material properties in two sections. The as-fabricated Ti–Ni–Cu alloy microstructure has the TiNi phase as the matrix with Ti₂Ni secondary precipitates. The hardness shows no high values indicating that the major phase is not hard intermetallics. A bonding strength of 569.1 MPa was obtained by tensile testing, and digital image correlation reveals the different tensile responses of the two sections. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to measure the phase-transformation temperatures. The austenite finishing temperature of higher than 80 °C was measured for the Ti–Ni–Cu alloy section. For the TiNi substrate, the austenite finishing temperature was tested to be near 47 °C at the bottom and around 22 °C at the upper substrate region, which is due to the repeated laser scanning that acts as annealing on the substrate. Finally, the multiple shape-memory effect of two shape-memory alloy sides was tested and identified. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Materials for Additive Manufacturing)

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19 pages, 13282 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Heat Treatments of Metastable β Titanium Alloy Ti-24Nb-4Zr-8Sn Processed by Laser Powder Bed Fusion

by Maxwell Hein, Nelson Filipe Lopes Dias, Sudipta Pramanik, Dominic Stangier, Kay-Peter Hoyer, Wolfgang Tillmann and Mirko Schaper

Materials 2022, 15(11), 3774; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15113774 - 25 May 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2794

Abstract

Titanium alloys, especially β alloys, are favorable as implant materials due to their promising combination of low Young’s modulus, high strength, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. In particular, the low Young’s moduli reduce the risk of stress shielding and implant loosening. The processing of [...] Read more.

Titanium alloys, especially β alloys, are favorable as implant materials due to their promising combination of low Young’s modulus, high strength, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. In particular, the low Young’s moduli reduce the risk of stress shielding and implant loosening. The processing of Ti-24Nb-4Zr-8Sn through laser powder bed fusion is presented. The specimens were heat-treated, and the microstructure was investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The mechanical properties were determined by hardness and tensile tests. The microstructures reveal a mainly β microstructure with α″ formation for high cooling rates and α precipitates after moderate cooling rates or aging. The as-built and α″ phase containing conditions exhibit a hardness around 225 HV5, yield strengths (YS) from 340 to 490 MPa, ultimate tensile strengths (UTS) around 706 MPa, fracture elongations around 20%, and Young’s moduli about 50 GPa. The α precipitates containing conditions reveal a hardness around 297 HV5, YS around 812 MPa, UTS from 871 to 931 MPa, fracture elongations around 12%, and Young’s moduli about 75 GPa. Ti-24Nb-4Zr-8Sn exhibits, depending on the heat treatment, promising properties regarding the material behavior and the opportunity to tailor the mechanical performance as a low modulus, high strength implant material. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Materials for Additive Manufacturing)

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12 pages, 3660 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pigment Penetration Characterization of Colored Boundaries in Powder-Based Color 3D Printing

by Danyang Yao, Jiangping Yuan, Jieni Tian, Liru Wang and Guangxue Chen

Materials 2022, 15(9), 3245; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15093245 - 30 Apr 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1864

Abstract

Color 3D printing has widely affected our daily lives; therefore, its precise control is essential for aesthetics and performance. In this study, four unique test plates were printed using powder-based full-color 3D printing as an example; moreover, the corresponding pigment-penetration depth, chromaticity value [...] Read more.

Color 3D printing has widely affected our daily lives; therefore, its precise control is essential for aesthetics and performance. In this study, four unique test plates were printed using powder-based full-color 3D printing as an example; moreover, the corresponding pigment-penetration depth, chromaticity value and image-based metrics were measured to investigate the lateral pigment penetration characteristics and relative surface-color reproduction of each color patch, and to perform an objective analysis with specific microscopic images. The results show that the lateral pigment-penetration depth correlates with the number of printed layers on the designed 3D test plates, and the qualitative analysis of microscopic images can explain the change in chromaticity well. Meanwhile, there is an obvious linear correlation between the mean structural similarity, color-image difference and color difference for current color samples. Thus, our proposed approach has a good practicality for powder-based color 3D printing, and can provide new insight into predicting the color-presentation efficiency of color 3D-printed substrates by the abovementioned objective metrics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Materials for Additive Manufacturing)

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14 pages, 5457 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Laser Scanning Speed on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Laser-Powder-Bed-Fused K418 Nickel-Based Alloy

by Zhen Chen, Yongxin Lu, Fan Luo, Shuzhe Zhang, Pei Wei, Sen Yao and Yongxin Wang

Materials 2022, 15(9), 3045; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15093045 - 22 Apr 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2786

Abstract

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is a powder-bed-based metal additive manufacturing process with multiple influencing parameters as well as multi-physics interaction. The laser scanning speed, which is one of the essential process parameters of the LPBF process, determines the microstructure and properties of [...] Read more.

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is a powder-bed-based metal additive manufacturing process with multiple influencing parameters as well as multi-physics interaction. The laser scanning speed, which is one of the essential process parameters of the LPBF process, determines the microstructure and properties of the components by adjusting the instantaneous energy input of the molten pool. This work presents a comprehensive investigation of the effects of the laser scanning speed on the densification behavior, phase evolution, microstructure development, microhardness, and tensile properties of K418 alloy prepared by laser powder bed fusion. When the scanning speed is 800 mm/s, the microstructure of the material is dominated by cellular dendrite crystals, with coarse grains and some cracks in the melting tracks. When the scanning speed is increased to 1200 mm/s, a portion of the material undergoes a cellular dendrite–columnar crystal transition, the preferred orientation of the grains is primarily (001), and internal defects are significantly reduced. When the scanning speed is further increased to 1600 mm/s, columnar crystals become the main constituent grains, and the content of high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) within the microstructure increases, refining the grain size. However, the scanning speed is too fast, resulting in defects such as unmelted powder, and lowering the relative density. The experimental results show that by optimizing the laser scanning speed, the microhardness of the LPBF-ed K418 parts can be improved to 362.89 ± 5.01 HV, the tensile strength can be elevated to 1244.35 ± 99.12 MPa, and the elongation can be enhanced to 12.53 ± 1.79%. These findings could help determine the best scanning speed for producing K418 components with satisfactory microstructure and tensile properties via LPBF. In addition, since the LPBF process is largely not constrained and limited by the complexity of the geometric shape of the part, it is expected to manufacture sophisticated and complex structures with hollow, porous, mesh, thin-walled, special-shaped inner flow channels and other structures through the topology optimization design. However, due to the relatively narrow LPBF process window, this study will benefit from LPBF in producing a lightweight, complex, and low-cost K418 product, greatly improving its performance, and promoting the use of LPBF technology in the preparation of nickel-based superalloys. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Materials for Additive Manufacturing)

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27 pages, 9378 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Fidelity Surrogate-Based Process Mapping with Uncertainty Quantification in Laser Directed Energy Deposition

by Nandana Menon, Sudeepta Mondal and Amrita Basak

Materials 2022, 15(8), 2902; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15082902 - 15 Apr 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3518

Abstract

A multi-fidelity (MF) surrogate involving Gaussian processes (GPs) is used for designing temporal process maps in laser directed energy deposition (L-DED) additive manufacturing (AM). Process maps are used to establish relationships between the melt pool properties (e.g., melt pool depth) and process parameters [...] Read more.

A multi-fidelity (MF) surrogate involving Gaussian processes (GPs) is used for designing temporal process maps in laser directed energy deposition (L-DED) additive manufacturing (AM). Process maps are used to establish relationships between the melt pool properties (e.g., melt pool depth) and process parameters (e.g., laser power and scan velocity). The MFGP surrogate involves a high-fidelity (HF) and a low-fidelity (LF) model. The Autodesk Netfabb

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finite element model (FEM) is selected as the HF model, while an analytical model developed by Eagar-Tsai is chosen as the LF one. The results show that the MFGP surrogate is capable of successfully blending the information present in different fidelity models for designing the temporal forward process maps (e.g., given a set of process parameters for which the true depth is not known, what would be the melt pool depth?). To expand the newly-developed formulation for establishing the temporal inverse process maps (e.g., to achieve the desired melt pool depth for which the true process parameters are not known, what would be the optimal prediction of the process parameters as a function of time?), a case study is performed by coupling the MFGP surrogate with Bayesian Optimization (BO) under computational budget constraints. The results demonstrate that MFGP-BO can significantly improve the optimization solution quality compared to the single-fidelity (SF) GP-BO, along with incurring a lower computational budget. As opposed to the existing methods that are limited to developing steady-state forward process maps, the current work successfully demonstrates the realization of temporal forward and inverse process maps in L-DED incorporating uncertainty quantification (UQ). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Materials for Additive Manufacturing)

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10 pages, 2493 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Use of Fumed Silica Nanostructured Additives in Selective Laser Melting and Fabrication of Steel Matrix Nanocomposites

by Hwee Kang Koh, James Guo Sheng Moo, Swee Leong Sing and Wai Yee Yeong

Materials 2022, 15(5), 1869; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15051869 - 2 Mar 2022

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 3434

Abstract

The advancement of additive manufacturing (AM) for metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNCs) is gaining enormous attention due to their potential improvement of physical and mechanical performance. When using nanostructured additives as reinforcements in 3D printed metal composites and with the aid of selective laser [...] Read more.

The advancement of additive manufacturing (AM) for metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNCs) is gaining enormous attention due to their potential improvement of physical and mechanical performance. When using nanostructured additives as reinforcements in 3D printed metal composites and with the aid of selective laser melting (SLM), the mechanical properties of the composites can be tailored. The nanostructured additive AEROSIL^® fumed silica is both cost-effective and beneficial in the production of MMNCs using SLM. In this study, both hydrophobic and hydrophilic fumed silicas were shown to successfully achieve homogenous blends with commercial 316L stainless steel powder. The powder blends, which exhibited better flow, were then used to fabricate samples using SLM. The samples’ microstructure demonstrated that smaller grains were present in the composites, resulting in improvements in mechanical properties by grain refinement compared to those of 316L stainless steel samples. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Materials for Additive Manufacturing)

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15 pages, 5283 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Practical Approach to Eliminate Solidification Cracks by Supplementing AlMg4.5Mn0.7 with AlSi10Mg Powder in Laser Powder Bed Fusion

by Constantin Böhm, Martin Werz and Stefan Weihe

Materials 2022, 15(2), 572; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15020572 - 13 Jan 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2466

Abstract

The range of available aluminum alloy powders for laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is restricted to mainly Al–Si based alloys. Currently aluminum alloy powders, designed for lightweight application, based on Al–Mg (5000 series), Al–Si–Mg (6000 series), or Al–Zn–Mg (7000 series), cannot be processed [...] Read more.

The range of available aluminum alloy powders for laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is restricted to mainly Al–Si based alloys. Currently aluminum alloy powders, designed for lightweight application, based on Al–Mg (5000 series), Al–Si–Mg (6000 series), or Al–Zn–Mg (7000 series), cannot be processed by LPBF without solidification cracks. This has an impact on the potential of LPBF for lightweight applications. In fusion welding, solidification cracks are eliminated by using filler materials. This study aims to transfer the known procedure to LPBF, by supplementing EN AW-5083 (AlMg4.5Mn0.7) with AlSi10Mg. EN AW-5083 and two modifications (+7 wt.% and +15 wt.% AlSi10Mg) were produced by LPBF and analyzed. It was found that, in EN AW-5083, the solidification cracks have a length ≥200 µm parallel to the building direction. Furthermore, the solidification cracks can already be eliminated by supplementing 7 wt.% AlSi10Mg. The microstructure analysis revealed that, by supplementing AlSi10Mg, the melt pool boundaries become visible, and the grain refines by 40% relative to the base alloy. Therefore, adding a low melting point phase and grain refinement are the mechanisms that eliminate solidification cracking. This study illustrates a practical approach to eliminate solidification cracks in LPBF. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Materials for Additive Manufacturing)

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17 pages, 17612 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Feasibility Study on Additive Manufacturing of Ferritic Steels to Meet Mechanical Properties of Safety Relevant Forged Parts

by Linda Mally, Martin Werz and Stefan Weihe

Materials 2022, 15(1), 383; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15010383 - 5 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2734

Abstract

Additive manufacturing processes such as selective laser melting are rapidly gaining a foothold in safety-relevant areas of application such as powerplants or nuclear facilities. Special requirements apply to these applications. A certain material behavior must be guaranteed and the material must be approved [...] Read more.

Additive manufacturing processes such as selective laser melting are rapidly gaining a foothold in safety-relevant areas of application such as powerplants or nuclear facilities. Special requirements apply to these applications. A certain material behavior must be guaranteed and the material must be approved for these applications. One of the biggest challenges here is the transfer of these already approved materials from conventional manufacturing processes to additive manufacturing. Ferritic steels that have been processed conventionally by forging, welding, casting, and bending are widely used in safety-relevant applications such as reactor pressure vessels, steam generators, valves, and piping. However, the use of ferritic steels for AM has been relatively little explored. In search of new materials for the SLM process, it is assumed that materials with good weldability are also additively processible. Therefore, the processability with SLM, the process behavior, and the achievable material properties of the weldable ferritic material 22NiMoCr3-7, which is currently used in nuclear facilities, are investigated. The material properties achieved in the SLM are compared with the conventionally forged material as it is used in state-of-the-art pressure water reactors. This study shows that the ferritic-bainitic steel 22NiMoCr3-7 is suitable for processing with SLM. Suitable process parameters were found with which density values > 99% were achieved. For the comparison of the two materials in this study, the microstructure, hardness values, and tensile strength were compared. By means of a specially adapted heat treatment method, the material properties of the printed material could be approximated to those of the original block material. In particular, the cooling medium/cooling method was adapted and the cooling rate reduced. The targeted ferritic-bainitic microstructure was achieved by this heat treatment. The main difference found between the two materials relates to the grain sizes present. For the forged material, the grain size distribution varies between very fine and slightly coarse grains. The grain size distribution in the printed material is more uniform and the grains are smaller overall. In general, it was difficult and only minimal possible to induce grain growth. As a result, the hardness values of the printed material are also slightly higher. The tensile strength could be approximated to that of the reference material up to 60 MPa. The approximation of the mechanical-technological properties is therefore deemed to be adequate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Materials for Additive Manufacturing)

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21 pages, 11555 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Functional Gradient Material Distribution and Patterning on Torsional Properties of Lattice Structures Manufactured Using MultiJet Fusion Technology

by Yeabsra Mekdim Hailu, Aamer Nazir, Shang-Chih Lin and Jeng-Ywan Jeng

Materials 2021, 14(21), 6521; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14216521 - 29 Oct 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3799

Abstract

Functionally graded lattice structures have attracted much attention in engineering due to their excellent mechanical performance resulting from their optimized and application-specific properties. These structures are inspired by nature and are important for a lightweight yet efficient and optimal functionality. They have enhanced [...] Read more.

Functionally graded lattice structures have attracted much attention in engineering due to their excellent mechanical performance resulting from their optimized and application-specific properties. These structures are inspired by nature and are important for a lightweight yet efficient and optimal functionality. They have enhanced mechanical properties over the uniform density counterparts because of their graded design, making them preferable for many applications. Several studies were carried out to investigate the mechanical properties of graded density lattice structures subjected to different types of loadings mainly related to tensile, compression, and fatigue responses. In applications related to biomedical, automotive, and aerospace sectors, dynamic bending and rotational stresses are critical load components. Therefore, the study of torsional properties of functionally gradient lattice structures will contribute to a better implementation of lattice structures in several sectors. In this study, several functionally gradient triply periodic minimal surfaces structures and strut-based lattice structures were designed in cylindrical shapes having 40% relative density. The HP Multi Jet Fusion 4200 3D printer was used to fabricate all specimens for the experimental study. A torsional experiment until the failure of each structure was conducted to investigate properties of the lattice structures such as torsional stiffness, energy absorption, and failure characteristics. The results showed that the stiffness and energy absorption of structures can be improved by an effective material distribution that corresponds to the stress concentration due to torsional load. The TPMS based functionally gradient design showed a 35% increase in torsional stiffness and 15% increase in the ultimate shear strength compared to their uniform counterparts. In addition, results also revealed that an effective material distribution affects the failure mechanism of the lattice structures and delays the plastic deformation, increasing their resistance to torsional loads. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Materials for Additive Manufacturing)

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11 pages, 4868 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bone Conduction Capacity of Highly Porous 3D-Printed Titanium Scaffolds Based on Different Pore Designs

by Ho-Kyung Lim, Miyoung Ryu, Su-Heon Woo, In-Seok Song, Young-Jun Choi and Ui-Lyong Lee

Materials 2021, 14(14), 3892; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14143892 - 12 Jul 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2581

Abstract

In porous titanium scaffolds manufactured via 3D printing, the differences in bone formation according to pore design and implantation period were studied. Titanium scaffolds with three types of different pore structures (Octadense, Gyroid, and Dode) were fabricated via 3D printing using the selective [...] Read more.

In porous titanium scaffolds manufactured via 3D printing, the differences in bone formation according to pore design and implantation period were studied. Titanium scaffolds with three types of different pore structures (Octadense, Gyroid, and Dode) were fabricated via 3D printing using the selective laser melting method. Mechanical properties of scaffolds were investigated. Prepared specimens were inserted into both femurs of nine rabbits and their clinical characteristics were observed. Three animals were sacrificed at the 2nd, 4th, and 6th weeks, and the differences in bone formation were radiologically and histologically analyzed. The percentage of new bone and surface density in the pore structure were observed to be approximately 25% and 8 mm²/mm³, respectively. There was no difference in the amount of newly formed bone according to the pore design at 2, 4, and 6 weeks. In addition, no differences in the amount of newly formed bone were observed with increasing time within the same pore design for all three designs. During the 6-week observation period, the proportion of new bones in the 3D-printed titanium scaffold was approximately 25%. Differences in bone formation according to the pore design or implantation period were not observed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Materials for Additive Manufacturing)

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23 pages, 5810 KiB

Open AccessReview

Online Monitoring Technology of Metal Powder Bed Fusion Processes: A Review

by Zhuo-Jun Hou, Qing Wang, Chen-Guang Zhao, Jun Zheng, Ju-Mei Tian, Xiao-Hong Ge and Yuan-Gang Liu

Materials 2022, 15(21), 7598; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15217598 - 28 Oct 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3063

Abstract

Metal powder bed fusion (PBF) is an advanced metal additive manufacturing (AM) technology. Compared with traditional manufacturing techniques, PBF has a higher degree of design freedom. Currently, although PBF has received extensive attention in fields with high–quality standards such as aerospace and automotive, [...] Read more.

Metal powder bed fusion (PBF) is an advanced metal additive manufacturing (AM) technology. Compared with traditional manufacturing techniques, PBF has a higher degree of design freedom. Currently, although PBF has received extensive attention in fields with high–quality standards such as aerospace and automotive, there are some disadvantages, namely poor process quality and insufficient stability, which make it difficult to apply the technology to the manufacture of critical components. In order to surmount these limitations, it is necessary to monitor the process. Online monitoring technology can detect defects in time and provide certain feedback control, so it can greatly enhance the stability of the process, thereby ensuring its quality of the process. This paper presents the current status of online monitoring technology of the metal PBF process from the aspects of powder recoating monitoring, powder bed inspection, building process monitoring, and melt layer detection. Some of the current limitations and future trends are then highlighted. The combination of these four–part monitoring methods can make the quality of PBF parts highly assured. We unanimously believe that this article can be helpful for future research on PBF process monitoring. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Materials for Additive Manufacturing)

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38 pages, 22524 KiB

Open AccessReview

Laser Powder-Bed Fusion of Ceramic Particulate Reinforced Aluminum Alloys: A Review

by Tatevik Minasyan and Irina Hussainova

Materials 2022, 15(7), 2467; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15072467 - 27 Mar 2022

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 5423

Abstract

Aluminum (Al) and its alloys are the second most used materials spanning industrial applications in automotive, aircraft and aerospace industries. To comply with the industrial demand for high-performance aluminum alloys with superb mechanical properties, one promising approach is reinforcement with ceramic particulates. Laser [...] Read more.

Aluminum (Al) and its alloys are the second most used materials spanning industrial applications in automotive, aircraft and aerospace industries. To comply with the industrial demand for high-performance aluminum alloys with superb mechanical properties, one promising approach is reinforcement with ceramic particulates. Laser powder-bed fusion (LPBF) of Al alloy powders provides vast freedom in design and allows fabrication of aluminum matrix composites with significant grain refinement and textureless microstructure. This review paper evaluates the trends in in situ and ex situ reinforcement of aluminum alloys by ceramic particulates, while analyzing their effect on the material properties and process parameters. The current research efforts are mainly directed toward additives for grain refinement to improve the mechanical performance of the printed parts. Reinforcing additives has been demonstrated as a promising perspective for the industrialization of Al-based composites produced via laser powder-bed fusion technique. In this review, attention is mainly paid to borides (TiB₂, LaB₆, CaB₆), carbides (TiC, SiC), nitrides (TiN, Si₃N₄, BN, AlN), hybrid additives and their effect on the densification, grain refinement and mechanical behavior of the LPBF-produced composites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Materials for Additive Manufacturing)

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