Liu, T.-S., Chen, P., Qiu, F., Yang, H.-Y., Jin, N. T. Y., Chew, Y., Wang, D., Li, R., Jiang, Q.-C., & Tan, C. (2024). Review on laser directed energy deposited aluminum alloys. International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, 6(2), 022004. https://doi.org/10.1088/2631-7990/ad16bb
Abstract:
Abstract
Lightweight aluminum (Al) alloys have been widely used in frontier fields like aerospace and automotive industries, which attracts great interest in additive manufacturing (AM) to process high-value Al parts. As a mainstream AM technique, laser-directed energy deposition (LDED) shows good scalability to meet the requirements for large-format component manufacturing and repair. However, LDED Al alloys are highly challenging due to their inherent poor printability (e.g. low laser absorption, high oxidation sensitivity and cracking tendency). To further promote the development of LDED high-performance Al alloys, this review offers a deep understanding of the challenges and strategies to improve printability in LDED Al alloys. The porosity, cracking, distortion, inclusions, element evaporation and resultant inferior mechanical properties (worse than laser powder bed fusion) are the key challenges in LDED Al alloys. Processing parameter optimizations, in-situ alloy design, reinforcing particle addition and field assistance are the efficient approaches to improving the printability and performance of LDED Al alloys. The underlying correlations between processes, alloy innovation, characteristic microstructures, and achievable performances in LDED Al alloys are discussed. The benchmark mechanical properties and primary strengthening mechanism of LDED Al alloys are summarized. This review aims to provide a critical and in-depth evaluation of current progress in LDED Al alloys. Future opportunities and perspectives in LDED high-performance Al alloys are also outlined.
License type:
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Funding Info:
This research / project is supported by the Singapore Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2025 - MTC Young Individual Research Grants (YIRG)
Grant Reference no. : M22K3c0097
This research / project is supported by the A*STAR - Singapore Aerospace Programme Cycle 16
Grant Reference no. : M2215a0073