Selective Laser Melting of AlSi10Mg: Corrosion Behavior

Abstract

Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes can theoretically fabricate materials with any complex structures with added functionality at low costs. However, the properties of components developed by AM should not lose to the properties observed in components fabricated through conventional manufacturing methods. In this study, the corrosion resistance of AlSi10Mg alloy processed through Selective Laser Melting (SLM) in contrast to its traditional counterpart, Sand-Casting (SC) was investigated. Potentiodynamic polarization tests were performed to study the electrochemical behaviour in a 3.5% NaCl solution. It was observed that the corrosion resistance of the SLM material is relatively better than the SC alloy under similar test conditions. It may be concluded that the unique solidification conditions existing during the SLM process may lead to marginally improved corrosion resistance in the alloy considered.