Effect of powder composition on WE43 magnesium alloy fabricated by laser powder bed fusion

Bangzhao Yin; Kun Li; Wen Chen; Huanjie Huang; Dazhi Liu; Fei Song; Yun Tian; Peng Wen

Journal of Materials Research and Technology (Sep 2024)

Effect of powder composition on WE43 magnesium alloy fabricated by laser powder bed fusion

Bangzhao Yin,
Kun Li,
Wen Chen,
Huanjie Huang,
Dazhi Liu,
Fei Song,
Yun Tian,
Peng Wen

Affiliations

Bangzhao Yin: State Key Laboratory of Clean and Efficient Turbomachinery Power Equipment, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
Kun Li: State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Transmission for Advanced Equipment, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Metal Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing), Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China; College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China; Corresponding author. State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Transmission for Advanced Equipment, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China.
Wen Chen: Chongqing Key Laboratory of Metal Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing), Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China; College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
Huanjie Huang: Chongqing Key Laboratory of Metal Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing), Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China; College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
Dazhi Liu: Tangshan Weihao Magnesium Powder Co., Ltd., Qian'an, 064406, China
Fei Song: State Key Laboratory of Clean and Efficient Turbomachinery Power Equipment, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Beijing, 102218, China; Corresponding author. State Key Laboratory of Clean and Efficient Turbomachinery Power Equipment, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
Yun Tian: Department of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
Peng Wen: State Key Laboratory of Clean and Efficient Turbomachinery Power Equipment, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Beijing, 102218, China; Corresponding author. State Key Laboratory of Clean and Efficient Turbomachinery Power Equipment, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 32
pp. 577 – 588

Abstract

Read online

Laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) of WE43 magnesium alloy has a promising application prospect in the fields of lightweight parts and biodegradable implants. Grain refinement in these components is expected for high strength and controlled biodegradation, however, grain structure of WE43 is sensitive to composition and processing. L-PBF WE43 exhibited significant diversity on the microstructure and properties with the fluctuation of powder composition, and the influencing mechanism remained unclear. In this study, L-PBF samples were fabricated with high formation quality using four different WE43 powders, in which the content of Nd and Zr were purposely adjusted. Their microstructure, tensile properties and corrosion resistance were characterized. L-PBF specimens composed of fine equiaxed grains were obtained from Mg-3.56Y-2.45Nd-1.14Gd-0.40Zr powder, achieving ultimate strength of 316 MPa and elongation of 15%. With the minor decrease of Nd and Zr content, which was still in the range of present standards of WE43, L-PBF specimens respectively exhibited abnormal grain growth and coarse columnar grains, leading to tremendous deterioration of mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. During the multiple layers of fusion and solidification, Zr promoted the columnar-to-equiaxed transition and generated finer grains, while Nd exerted pinning effect in the heat affected zone to keep the fine grains from abnormal grain growth. The results firstly demonstrate the significant influence of the minor change of alloying elements on the performance, and indicate that a stricter compositional standard of WE43 powder is necessary to achieve reliable properties for the L-PBF process.

Published in Journal of Materials Research and Technology

ISSN: 2238-7854 (Print); 2214-0697 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Technology: Mining engineering. Metallurgy
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-materials-research-and-technology/

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords