Post-processing of additively manufactured metal parts by ultrashort laser pulses for high-quality net shape geometries and advanced functionality. Issue 1 (November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Holder, Daniel; Buser, Matthias; Leis, Artur; Weber, Rudolf; Graf, Thomas
• Is Part Of: IOP conference series. Volume 1135:Issue 1(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-11
• Subjects: Materials science -- Periodicals; 620.1105
• DOI: 10.1088/1757-899X/1135/1/012005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-8981

Abstract

Abstract: Additive manufacturing by means of laser-based powder bed fusion (LPBF) offers high flexibility with respect to the generation of individualized and light-weight metal parts. However, the produced parts are typically attached to support structures and deviate a few tens of micrometers from the targeted final component in geometrical net shape and surface roughness due to the melt-based fusion process. Therefore, different post-processing techniques were examined in the past to resolve the mentioned quality drawbacks. In our work, we investigated the potential of post-processing of LPBF-generated Ti6Al4V parts with ultrashort pulse laser ablation. As a result, the support structures were effectively removed, the surface roughness was reduced by 81% and complex geometries with high shape accuracy were fabricated. Furthermore, the LBPF-generated parts were laser surface structured to investigate the potential of post-processing with ultrashort laser pulses for advanced functionality, such as water-repellent surfaces. The generation of surface structures on the LPBF-generated Ti6Al4V part changed the wetting behaviour from hydrophilic to hydrophobic with an increased contact angle from 73° up to 130°.