Gas atomized Ti-6Al-4V (Ti64) alloy powder was used to prepare distinct designed geometries with different properties by selective laser melting (SLM). Several heat treatments were investigated to find suitable processing parameters to strengthen (specially to harden) these parts for different applications. The results showed significant differences between tabulated results for heat treated billet Ti64 and SLM produced Ti64 parts, while certain mechanical properties of SLM Ti64 parts could be improved by different heat treatments using different processing parameters. Most heat treatments performed followed the trends of a reduction in tensile strength while improving ductility compared with untreated SLM Ti64 parts.Gas nitriding [GN] (diffusion-based thermo-chemical treatment) has been combined with a selected heat treatment for interstitial hardening. Heat treatment was performed below β-transus temperature using minimum flow of nitrogen gas with a controlled low pressure. The surface of the SLM produced Ti64 parts after gas nitriding showed TiN and Ti2N phases (“compound layer”, XRD analysis) and α (N) – Ti diffusion zones as well as high values of micro-hardness as compared to untreated SLM produced Ti64 parts. The microhardness profiles on cross section of the gas nitrided SLM produced samples gave information about the i) microhardness behaviour of the material, and ii) thickness of the nitrided layer, which was investigated using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and x-ray elemental analysis. Tensile properties of the gas nitrided Ti64 bars produced by SLM under different conditions were also reported.
INFLUENCE OF HEAT TREATMENTS ON THE MICROSTRUCTURE AND TENSILE BEHAVIOUR OF SELECTIVE LASER MELTING-PRODUCED TI-6AL-4V PARTS
