Anisotropy and heterogeneity of microstructure and mechanical properties in metal additive manufacturing: A critical review. (5th February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kok, Y.; Tan, X.P.; Wang, P.; Nai, M.L.S.; Loh, N.H.; Liu, E.; Tor, S.B.
• Is Part Of: Materials & design. Volume 139(2018)
• Page Start: 565
• Page End: 586
• Publication Date: 2018-02-05
• Subjects: Additive manufacturing -- Metals -- Anisotropy -- Heterogeneity -- Microstructure -- Properties; Materials -- Periodicals; Engineering design -- Periodicals; Matériaux -- Périodiques; Conception technique -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2017.11.021
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-1275

Abstract

Abstract: Metal additive manufacturing (AM) has developed rapidly over the last decade to become a disruptive technology capable of revolutionizing the way that products from various industrial sectors such as biomedical, aerospace, automotive, marine and offshore are designed. Early adopters of the technology like the biomedical and aerospace industries have shown that the better-designed components offer substantial performance improvements over current designs. However, in-depth and comprehensive views on the microstructure and mechanical properties of additively manufactured metals and alloys are less reported. To realize the full design potential that metal AM can offer, especially for load-bearing structural components, it is imperative to provide a thorough understanding on the anisotropic and heterogeneous microstructure and mechanical properties that often occur within metal AM parts. This paper outlines a broad range of metal AM technologies and reviews literatures on the anisotropy and heterogeneity of microstructure and mechanical properties for metal AM parts. It can be highlighted that the contributing factors to the anisotropy and heterogeneity within metal AM parts were either their unique microstructural features or manufacturing deficiencies. Concluding remarks on the state-of-the-art research regarding this topic and the possible solutions to overcome the anisotropy and heterogeneity of metal AM parts are provided. Graphical abstract: Highlights: The major metal AM systems and their processing conditions The contributing factors on anisotropy and heterogeneity of microstructure and mechanical properties in metal AM parts A critical review on anisotropic and heterogeneous mechanical properties of various metal AM parts State-of-the-art development in numerical modelling to predict anisotropy and heterogeneity in metal AM parts