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Single track formation of TiC reinforced Inconel 718 metal matrix composites using selective laser melting process

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Abstract

This research investigates the formation of metal-matrix composites (MMCs) using Inconel 718 (IN718) and TiC through single-track experiments with different energy inputs and TiC contents up to 5%. The study examines melt pool morphologies, defect formation, and microstructural analysis. Analytical predictions were used for melt pool size and defect anticipation. The findings indicated that adding TiC enhances laser absorptivity, resulting in slightly larger melt pool sizes for TiC‐reinforced IN718. Besides, TiC content up to 5% does not significantly affect defect formation in single tracks. The analytical prediction anticipates the onset of keyholing and balling defects for IN718 with reasonable accuracy, but not so precisely for TiC-reinforced IN718 with homogenized properties. Besides, TiC melting strongly depends on energy input, emphasizing the importance of considering this aspect for optimizing process parameters in MMCs. SEM and EDS analyses revealed increased Ti concentration at high energy input and densely distributed original TiC particles at low energy input. EBSD analysis indicates that scan speed has a more pronounced effect on microstructural characteristics than added TiC content. This study provides valuable insights into MMC formation and highlights the significance of TiC content, defect formation, and particle melting for process optimization.

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Funding

This research receives funding support from the NSRF via the Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research and Innovation (PMU-B) under the grant number B16F640105. PP acknowledges the support from National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) for the project with grant numbers N42A660524.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 111 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Road, Khlong Nueng, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand

    Bralee Chayasombat, Sasitorn Srisawadi, Dhritti Tanprayoon & Krisda Tapracharoen

  2. Center for Lightweight Materials, Design, and Manufacturing, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Bangmod, Bangkok, 10140, Thailand

    Patcharapit Promoppatum & Boonyakorn Tummake

  3. Joining and Welding Research Institute, Osaka University, 11-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-0047, Japan

    Masahiro Ihama, Yuta Mizuguchi, Yuji Sato, Tetsuo Suga & Masahiro Tsukamoto

  4. Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA

    Ola L. A. Harrysson

Authors
  1. Bralee Chayasombat
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  2. Patcharapit Promoppatum
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  12. Ola L. A. Harrysson
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Bralee Chayasombat, Patcharapit Promoppatum, Sasitorn Srisawadi, Dhritti Tanprayoon, Krisda Tapracharoen, and Boonyakorn Tummake. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Bralee Chayasombat and Patcharapit Promoppatum. All authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. All authors have given their permission for publishing this work.

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Correspondence to Patcharapit Promoppatum.

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Appendix

Appendix

Figure 13 displays the description of melt pool width measurement from the optical microscopy image. The example was shown for IN718 with 5% wt. TiC under the laser power of 200 W and scanning speed of 100 mm/s.

Fig. 13
figure 13

Description of melt pool width measurement from the optical microscopy image

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Chayasombat, B., Promoppatum, P., Srisawadi, S. et al. Single track formation of TiC reinforced Inconel 718 metal matrix composites using selective laser melting process. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 131, 4529–4542 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-024-13260-0

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