Laser powder bed fusion of granulation-sintering-deoxygenation WC/18Ni300 composites: anisotropic microstructure characterization and wear properties
ISSN: 1355-2546
Article publication date: 6 March 2023
Issue publication date: 2 June 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) can be used to fabricate complex extrusion die without the limitation of structures. Layer-by-layer processing leads to differences in microstructures and wear properties. This study aims to investigate the microstructure evolution and effects of tungsten carbide (WC) on the wear properties of LPBF-printed 18Ni300.
Design/methodology/approach
Economical spherical granulation-sintering-deoxygenation (GSD) WC-reinforced 18Ni300 steel matrix composites were produced by LPBF from powder mixtures of WC and 18Ni300. The effects of WC contents on anisotropic microstructures and wear properties of the composites were investigated.
Findings
The relative density is more than 99% for all the composites except 25% WC/18Ni300 composite. The grain sizes distributed on the top cross-section are smaller than those on the side cross-section. After adding WC particles, more high-angle grain boundaries and larger Schmid factor generate, and deformed grains decrease. With increasing WC contents, the hardness first decreases and then increases but the wear volume loss decreases. The side cross-section of the composite has higher hardness and better wear resistance. The 18Ni300 exhibits adhesive wear accompanying with abrasive wear, while plowing and fatigue wear are the predominant wear mechanisms of the composites.
Originality/value
Economical spherical GSD WC particles can be used to improve the wear resistance. The novel WC/18Ni300 composites are suitable for the application under the abrasive wear condition with low stress.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The project was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51961017), Key Research and Development Project of Yunnan Province (Grant No. 202103AN080001-002, 202202AG050007), Yunnan Fundamental Research Projects (Grant No. 202101AS070017, 202101AU070014) and Introducing Talent Scientific Research Foundation of Kunming University of Science and Technology (Grant No. KKSY201901012).
Citation
Yao, B., Li, Z., Teng, B. and Liu, J. (2023), "Laser powder bed fusion of granulation-sintering-deoxygenation WC/18Ni300 composites: anisotropic microstructure characterization and wear properties", Rapid Prototyping Journal, Vol. 29 No. 6, pp. 1240-1256. https://doi.org/10.1108/RPJ-05-2022-0159
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited