Structure and properties of additively manufactured We43 magnesium alloy

Abstract

The experiment described in this article deals with the comparison of structures and mechanical properties of the Mg-4Y-3RE-0.5Zr (WE43) magnesium alloy produced by three different methods. A technique of additive manufacturing, selective laser melting (SLM), is compared with two conventional manufacturing techniques, casting and extrusion. Microstructures and chemical composition of present phases were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). Mechanical properties were compared based on hardness measurement, compression test and three-point flexural test. Significant differences were found between the microstructures of WE43 alloy produced by different production processes. Measurements of mechanical properties showed similar mechanical properties of additively manufactured samples with as-cast samples