Optimizing Manufacturing of Zr–Cu–AI–NI Metallic Glasses via Laser Metal Deposition

Abstract

Recently, it was discovered that the cutting-edge technique known as laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is the best way to produce Zr-based bulk glasses made of metal (BMGs). While LPBF gives greater versatility, current state-of-the-art production techniques like copper mold casting and arc-melting have limits when it comes to implementing complicated designs. Furthermore, LPBF enables a delicate balance to be struck between producing intricate characteristics and sustaining suitable temperatures all through the whole operation. Because of its exceptional features and practical availability, this research focuses on optimizing the process variables for a specific Zr-based alloy, AMZ4, which is produced by additive manufacturing in order to optimize both its mechanical and thermal characteristics. Belonging to the class of zirconium-based alloys known as bulk metallic glasses (BMG), Zr57Cu15Ni10AI5 (or Vit-106) has an excellent glass-forming ability and shows great promise. By casting, a BMG alloy may be transformed into workpieces that are about one centimeter in size in all three dimensions. Nevertheless, crystallization is induced when the cast size is further increased since it reduces the cooling rate. By building a workpiece from many melt sections with the cooling rate maintained above the critical one, selective laser melt (SLM) is an established technique for overcoming size restrictions for BMGs. Partially crystallized BMG is now an issue with SLM-obtained components. The effect of SLM process variables on partial crystallization is investigated in this paper. You may regulate the size and intensity of the inclusion by altering the speed of the laser scanning. Microhardness and wear resistance may be improved by incorporating submicron crystalline inclusions into the amorphous matrix by SLM.