The effect of thermal rest time during in situ alloying of Ti41Nb through laser powder bed fusion

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of thermal rest time variation on in situ alloying of Ti41Nb (wt.%) within a single part, building on previous research that utilized a short stripe width scanning strategy to promote interaction between individual melt pools. Employing a contour scan from the part center outwards, diverse thermal rest times were achieved at different locations within the component. Results revealed a significant influence of varying thermal rest times on the amount of unmelted Nb and mechanical properties of the part. The findings underscore the importance of considering thermal rest time in in situ alloying and laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) printing in general, as it can markedly affect print quality. This study contributes valuable insights for optimizing LPBF processing parameters and advancing the understanding of in situ alloying through LPBF.