Al-Si10-Mg Manufactured by Selective Laser Melting: Microstructure Sensitivity to Close Values of the Heat Input

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is an attractive Additive Manufacturing (AM) technology for the fabrication of metallic components with complex structures and high performances. This process fulfills goals sustainable production by reducing material waste, optimizing product topology, recycling powder. Aluminum alloys exhibit also performances being lightweight recyclable. Al-Si10-Mg alloy suitable SLM processing due to its good castability, strength, wear, corrosion resistance. However, laser aluminum date needs be optimized. In this study, authors have analyzed role close values heat input on microstructure defects (Electron Optical microscope, DRX analysis), porosity (optical microscope X-ray tomography), melting pool geometries (both in transversal longitudinal sections samples) mechanical performance (hardness tensile test) samples. The results shown that even at very energy density, properties samples differ from each other.