Advancements in Additive Manufacturing of Tantalum via the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB/M): A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (AM) exhibits a prime increment in manufacturing technology development. The last few decades have witnessed massive improvement in this field of research, including the growth in the process, equipment, and materials. Irrespective of compelling technological advancements, technical challenges provoke the application and development of these technologies. Metal additive manufacturing is considered a prime sector of the industrial revolution. Various metal AM techniques, including Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Laser Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB/M), and Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-EB/M), have been developed according to materials and process classifications. PBF-LB/M is considered one of the most suitable choices for metallic materials. PBF-LB/M of tantalum has become a hot topic of research in the current century owing to the high biocompatibility of tantalum and its high-end safety applications. PBF-LB/M of porous Ta can direct unexplored research prospects in biomedical and orthopedics by adapting mechanical and biomedical properties and pioneering implant designs with predictable features. This review primarily examines the current advancements in the additive manufacturing of tantalum and related alloys using the PBF-LB/M process. The analysis encompasses the evaluation of process parameters, mechanical properties, and potential biological applications. This will offer the reader valuable insights into the present state of PBF-LB/M for tantalum alloys.