Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering

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Browsing Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering by browse.metadata.advisor "Blaine, S. C."

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    Selective laser melting-produced Ti6Al4V: Influence of annealing strategies on crystallographic microstructure and tensile behaviour
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-12) Ter Haar, Gerrit Matthys; Becker, Thorsten Hermann ; Blaine, S. C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The ability to manufacture complex shapes and structures with little material waste, among other advantages, makes the metal additive manufacturing technique of Selective Laser Melting a superior manufacturing technique. The titanium alloy, Ti6Al4V, serves as a great material of choice for this manufacturing technique due to its excellent mechanical properties and its biocompatibility. These factors make Ti6Al4V parts produced through SLM highly applicable and valuable in the biomedical and aerospace industries. Due to limited research and development in the field however, part quality in terms of achievable mechanical properties, residual stress and density has been below standard (such as that achieved by wrought Ti6Al4V parts). The study aimed to gain a fundamental understanding of the influence of annealing strategies on the microstructure of SLM-produced Ti6Al4V to improve and optimise the tensile properties of the material. SLM-produced Ti6Al4V tensile samples were subject to various tailored heat treatment strategies. Analysis of microstructure through optical and electron backscatter diffraction allowed for correlations to be made between the annealing strategies and the microstructure as well as between the printing process and the microstructure. Tensile test results of annealed samples show a decrease in tensile strength with an increase in annealing temperature as well as an increase in ductility and stiffness with an increase in annealing temperature. It was found that the fine martensitic (α’) microstructure of the as-built samples decomposes into a dual-phase (α+β) microstructure at ~800 °C, thereby improving ductility and stiffness. An optimal duplex annealing strategy allows for a bi-lamellar microstructure to be formed which allows for a substantial increase in ductility while maintaining a high material strength.