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Microstructural characterization and mechanical properties of SLM-printed Ti–6Al–4V alloy: Effect of build orientation

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  • Focus Issue: Advances in Titanium Bio-implants
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Abstract

Manufacturing parameters play a significant role on the final quality and mechanical integrity of the structural components manufactured by selective laser melting (SLM) method. Among these parameters, the build orientation is quite crucial since it determines not only the manufacturing time and total cost of a 3D-printed part but also the mechanical strength with respect to loading axis. For this reason, this study is aimed at investigating the effect of build orientation (vertical vs. horizontal) on the microstructure, tensile strength, and wear properties of Ti–6Al–4V alloy manufactured by selective laser melting (SLM) method. The acicular \(\alpha^{\prime}\) martensite was the dominant phase in SLMed samples; however, the size of needles was finer in the vertically printed samples as compared to the horizontally printed ones. Grain boundary map revealed that the fraction of high-angle grain boundary (HAGBs) was dominant in the as-printed state whereas low-angle grain boundary (LAGBs) was dominant in the wrought alloy. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the horizontally and vertically printed samples was ≈ 27% and 15% higher than that of wrought alloy while the ductility is almost one-third of the commercial alloy and quite close to the minimum requirement of ASTM F1108 for surgical implants. The dry sliding pin-on-disc showed that the wear resistance of the as-printed alloy irrespective of build orientation was inferior when compared to the wrought alloy.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the facilities and the scientific and technical assistance of the Microscopy Australia node at the University of Sydney (Sydney Microscopy & Microanalysis) and Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre (MWAC) at the University of New South Wales.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Advanced Materials Technology, School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia

    H. Eskandari, L. Ye, M. Eizadjou & H. Wang

  2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia

    H. R. Lashgari

  3. Department of Materials and Textile Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

    Sh. Zangeneh

  4. Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre (MWAC), University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia

    C. Kong

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  1. H. Eskandari
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  2. H. R. Lashgari
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  3. Sh. Zangeneh
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  4. C. Kong
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  5. L. Ye
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  6. M. Eizadjou
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  7. H. Wang
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We, the undersigned, declare that this manuscript is original, has not been published before, and is not currently being considered for publication elsewhere. We confirm that the manuscript has been read and approved by all named authors and that there are no other persons who satisfied the criteria for authorship but are not listed. We further confirm that the order of authors listed in the manuscript has been approved by all of us. We understand that the Corresponding Author is the sole contact for the Editorial process.

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Correspondence to H. R. Lashgari.

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Eskandari, H., Lashgari, H.R., Zangeneh, S. et al. Microstructural characterization and mechanical properties of SLM-printed Ti–6Al–4V alloy: Effect of build orientation. Journal of Materials Research 37, 2645–2660 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43578-021-00468-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/s43578-021-00468-z

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