Development of process parameters for selective laser melting of a Zr-based bulk metallic glass
Jithin James Marattukalam, Víctor Pacheco, Dennis Karlsson, Lars Riekehr, Johan Lindwall, Fredrik Forsberg, Ulf Jansson, Martin Sahlberg, Bjørgvin Hjörvarsson
Abstract
Parameters for selective laser melting of Zr59.3Cu28.8Al10.4Nb1.5 (trade name AMZ4), allowing crack-free bulk metallic glass with low porosity, have been developed. The phase formation was found to be strongly influenced by the heating power of the laser. X-ray amorphous samples were obtained with laser power at and below 75 W. The as-processed bulk metallic glass was found to devitrify by a two-stage crystallization process within which the presence of oxygen was concluded to play an essential role. At laser powers above 75 W, the observed crystallites were found to be a cubic phase (Cu2Zr4O). The hardness and Young’s modulus in the as-processed samples was found to increase marginally with increased fraction of the crystalline phase.