Effect of laser power on formability, microstructure and mechanical properties of selective laser melted Mg-Al-Zn alloy
ISSN: 1355-2546
Article publication date: 28 January 2020
Issue publication date: 19 May 2020
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the effect of laser energy on the formability, microstructure and mechanical properties of AZ61D alloy to assist systematic study of laser additive manufacturing of magnesium alloys.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, porous magnesium alloy samples were prepared by using different laser parameters. The changes of the formability and microstructure were observed by SEM, and the mechanical properties were tested. The above results were analyzed to obtain optimized laser parameters.
Findings
When the laser power is between 85 and 95 W (pulse width 3.0 ms, frequency 40 Hz), the surface morphology of the selective laser-melted (SLMed) porous samples are smooth and even. At 80 W, SLMed porous samples have a maximum relative density of 99.2 per cent. Because of the “solute capture” effect and the evaporization of magnesium, the fraction of ß-Mg17Al12 increases from 42.1 to 52.1 per cent when power rises from 80 to 105 W. The ultimate compressive strength of SLMed porous magnesium alloys is strengthened with the increase of laser power.
Originality/value
The effect of laser parameters on microstructure and mechanical properties of porous magnesium alloys prepared by SLM has not been reported.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Processing and Recycling of Non-ferrous Metals, Lanzhou University of Technology [Grant No. SKLAB02014006]; the Suzhou Science and Technology Bureau [Grant No. SYG201642]; the open fund for Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Manufacturing Technology [Grant No. HGAMTL-1701]; and the Jiangsu province 333 talent project [Grant No. BRA2017098].
Citation
Wang, X., Chen, C. and Zhang, M. (2020), "Effect of laser power on formability, microstructure and mechanical properties of selective laser melted Mg-Al-Zn alloy", Rapid Prototyping Journal, Vol. 26 No. 5, pp. 841-854. https://doi.org/10.1108/RPJ-04-2019-0113
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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