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Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of AlSi10Mg/NbC Composite Produced by Laser-Based Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) Process

  • Liquid Metal Processing of Al- and Mg-based Composite Materials
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Abstract

AlSi10Mg metal matrix composites with varying weight percentages (wt.%) of niobium carbide (NbC: 0, 3 and 6 wt.%) were produced utilizing a laser-based powder bed fusion process in three printing orientations (0°, 45° and 90°) to improve the mechanical properties of the composite. The effect of NbC in AlSi10Mg on reflectance, densification, microstructure, wear resistance, micro-hardness, tensile and compression behavior were examined. The reflectance of AlSi10Mg powder was reduced to 26.94% with the addition of 6 wt.% NbC. Furthermore, the addition of 6 wt.% NbC in AlSi10Mg increased the relative density (ρR) to 2.59%. The average grain size of all printed samples was ≤ 10 µm. The wear rate of the composite was reduced to 6.32% against EN-31 and 32.6% against SiC counter body at 00 printing orientation with 6 wt.% NbC. The mechanical properties of the AlSi10Mg/NbC composite were enhanced, including micro-hardness (167 HV0.5 at 6 wt.%), ultimate tensile strength (393 MPa at 3 wt.%) and compressive strength (851 MPa at 6 wt.%). However, the formation of intermetallic compounds reduces tensile strength over 3 wt.% NbC. The printing orientation also affected the composite's mechanical properties.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank SASTRA Deemed to be University and the Shanmugha Precision Forging (SPF) for providing the facility to carry out this research.

Funding

This experimental work was funded by SASTRA Deemed to be University under Prof. T. R. Rajagopalan (TRR) Research Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, Tamilnadu, India

    R. Raj Mohan, R. Venkatraman & S. Raghuraman

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  1. R. Raj Mohan
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  2. R. Venkatraman
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  3. S. Raghuraman
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Contributions

RMR: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing: Original draft preparation, Investigation. VR: Supervision. RS: Validation.

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Correspondence to R. Raj Mohan.

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Raj Mohan, R., Venkatraman, R. & Raghuraman, S. Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of AlSi10Mg/NbC Composite Produced by Laser-Based Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) Process. JOM 75, 155–166 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-022-05428-4

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