Direct Materials Deposition: Designed Macro and Microstructure

Abstract

AbstractRapid Fabrication of three-dimensional shapes of engineering materials such as H 13 tool steel and Nickel super alloys are now possible using Direct Materials Deposition (DMD) technique. H 13 tool steel is one of the difficult alloys for deposition due to residual stress accumulation from martensitic transformation. However, it is the material of choice for the die and tool industry. DMD offers Copper chill blocks and water cooling channels as the integral part of the tool. On the other hand ZrO2 was co-deposited with nickel superalloys using DMD. This process thus is amenable to produce both macro and microstructure to a designed specification. This paper briefly reviews the state of the art of DMD and describes the microstructure and mechanical properties of selected engineering alloy systems deposited by DMD.