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The microstructure and property evolutions of Inconel718 lattice structure by selective laser melting

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Abstract

Nickel-based lattice materials possess excellent mechanical properties and can be utilized in the fabrication of diverse lightweight structural materials, holding great potential for applications in the aerospace and automotive sectors. This study focuses on the preparation of Inconel718 lattice structure through selective laser melting and investigates the influence of heat treatment (standard heat treatment, homogenization heat treatment, and homogenization + standardization heat treatment) on the microstructure and properties of the alloy. Inconel718 is a precipitation-strengthened, high-temperature nickel-based alloy. The results indicate that the compressive properties of the lattice structures were significantly improved through homogenization heat treatment (the compressive property and energy absorption capacity were increased by 21.8% and 40.4%, respectively). This enhancement can be attributed to the dissolution of a considerable amount of δ phases (Ni3Nb) and Laves phase ((Ni,Cr,Fe)2(Nb,Mo,Ti)) as the solution temperature increased, thereby releasing the strengthening phase-forming element Nb. These Nb elements diffuse uniformly at a high solution temperature, and a large number of nano-sized γ″ phases (Ni3Nb) are precipitated in the alloy grains, playing a role of dispersion strengthening and making the strength increase significantly. Moreover, after homogenization heat treatment, the dislocation density is decreased, the crack sensitivity is decreased, and the toughness of the alloy is increased. Consequently, homogenization heat treatment facilitates the dispersion, which thus strengthens the alloy and enhances its compression performance. This study holds significant theoretical and practical implications as it contributes to the advancement of fundamental research on porous high-temperature nickel-based lattice structure and broadens their range of applications.

Graphical Abstract

The SLMed Inconel718 lattice structure after homogenizing heat treatment has better mechanical properties due to the precipitation of nano-sized γ″ phase.

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Data availability

The authors declare that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the paper and its Supplementary Information files.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Shanxi Province, China (Grant No. 20210302123064), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.51775521).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan, 030051, China

    Zhiyun Wang, Zhanyong Zhao, Peikang Bai, Bin Liu & Hongqiao Qu

  2. College of Materials Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China

    Juanna Ren & Baosheng Liu

  3. Advanced Materials Division, Engineered Multifunctional Composites (EMC) Nanotech LLC, Knoxville, TN, 37934, USA

    Juanna Ren

  4. Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India

    Nithesh Naik

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  1. Zhiyun Wang
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Contributions

Zhiyun Wang: background research, data compilation, writing—original draft. Zhanyong Zhao: data analysis, writing. Peikang Bai: data processing and analysis, writing. Juanna Ren: investigation, original manuscript review. Baosheng Liu: investigation, formal analysis. Nithesh. Naik: investigation, formal analysis. Bin Liu: data analysis, experimental supervision. Hongqiao Qu: data processing and analysis.

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Wang, Z., Zhao, Z., Bai, P. et al. The microstructure and property evolutions of Inconel718 lattice structure by selective laser melting. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater 7, 59 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-024-00869-8

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