ABSTRACT
The creep properties of a laser-directed energy deposition (L-DED) technique manufactured Inconel 718 (IN718) was investigated at 650 °C/700 MPa. Microstructure and creep properties of L-DED IN718 samples were tailored by various post heat treatments involving homogenization heat treatment with temperature ranging from 1080 to 1180 °C + double aging and hot isostatic pressing (HIP). Microstructural changes and their influence on the creep behavior and fracture mechanism were observed and discussed. The results show that L-DED sample heat treated by a simple double aging exhibits a 49% increase in creep lifetime tr and a comparable creep elongation Éf when compared to the wrought material, due to the reserved coarse dislocation cell substructure from the L-DED process. The loss of dislocation cell structure and the coarsening of grains at higher temperature of heat treatments contributes to a shorter tr, εf, but faster εÌmin (minimum creep rate). The present work demonstrates that a simultaneous improvement of creep strength and creep elongation can be achieved in the case of a coarse-grained L-DED IN718 by a double aging treatment which can preserve both the strengthening precipitates and an appropriate size of dislocation cells.
ABSTRACT
This paper summarizes the assessment of directional anisotropy in local mechanical properties for Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) IN-718 bulk samples via the use of miniature samples excised from the bulk for both as-deposited and post-treated states. The quasi-static tensile properties at room temperature are investigated at several different locations along the build direction and at different orientations for both considered states. A comparison between the excised miniature tensile specimens and standard-sized sample results have also been conducted and exhibit very good agreement. Significant anisotropy is present in mechanical properties at different build heights for the as-deposited state, while the post-treated material exhibited more homogenous properties, both along the height and for different sampling orientations. However, significant reductions (e.g., >30%) in the strength (Yield, UTS) along with a significant increase in the reduction in area at fracture is found for post-processed materials. Metallography and fractography analyses were conducted in order to begin to determine the source(s) of this anisotropy for the as-deposited state.
ABSTRACT
Bainitic steels were the focus of this study. These steels have the potential to obtain a good combination of strength, ductility, and edge stretchability, which is a very desirable characteristic in the automotive industry. Cu precipitation potential was investigated during prolonged isothermal bainitization treatment. Precipitation strengthening and ductility were measured using a tensile test, and edge stretchability was measured using a hole expansion test. The microstructure was characterized by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy and an electron backscattered diffraction. Lower bainite was obtained by austenitization treatment and subsequent immersion into a salt bath at 400 °C. Cu precipitation occurred after 120 min of holding in the bath and enhanced the yield stress of the Cu-alloyed steel by 120 MPa as compared with a reference steel without Cu. The strengthening did not affect ductility and decreased the edge stretchability by 10%. Steels with different Mn contents were examined. It was found that the enhancement of Mn content from 1 to 2 wt.% did not boost Cu strengthening ability. This result showed that the presence of Mn did not cause an Mn-Cu precipitation strengthening synergy, observed previously during martensite tempering procedure.
ABSTRACT
The strengthening effects of Cu and Mn were studied in steels, which contained 0.2% C and were micro-alloyed with B and Ti. The experimental steels were austenitized and quenched in order to take Mn and Cu into solid solution. The subsequent tempering of martensitic structures resulted in higher strengths in the materials alloyed with Cu than in the steel without Cu addition. Tensile testing and metallographic analyses were performed. The kinetics and magnitude of precipitation strengthening were measured for different tempering temperatures and times. Presumed synergistic effects between Cu precipitation strengthening and higher levels of Mn were observed.
