Effect of Direct Energy Deposition Process Parameters on Single-Track Deposits of Alloy 718
Suhas Sreekanth, Ehsan Ghassemali, Kjell Hurtig, Shrikant Joshi, Joel Andersson
Abstract
The effect of three important process parameters, namely laser power, scanning speed and laser stand-off distance on the deposit geometry, microstructure and segregation characteristics in direct energy deposited alloy 718 specimens has been studied. Laser power and laser stand-off distance were found to notably affect the width and depth of the deposit, while the scanning speed influenced the deposit height. An increase in specific energy conditions (between 0.5 J/mm2 and 1.0 J/mm2) increased the total area of deposit yielding varied grain morphologies and precipitation behaviors which were comprehensively analyzed. A deposit comprising three distinct zones, namely the top, middle and bottom regions, categorized based on the distinct microstructural features formed on account of variation in local solidification conditions. Nb-rich eutectics preferentially segregated in the top region of the deposit (5.4–9.6% area fraction, Af) which predominantly consisted of an equiaxed grain structure, as compared to the middle (1.5–5.7% Af) and the bottom regions (2.6–4.5% Af), where columnar dendritic morphology was observed. High scan speed was more effective in reducing the area fraction of Nb-rich phases in the top and middle regions of the deposit. The <100> crystallographic direction was observed to be the preferred growth direction of columnar grains while equiaxed grains had a random orientation.