An Additively Manufactured Titanium Alloy in the Focus of Metallography

Abstract Additive manufacturing processes allow the production of geometrically complex lightweight structures with specific material properties. However, by contrast ingot metallurgy methods, manufacture components using this process also brings about some challenges. In field microstructural characterization, where mostly very fine are analyzed, it is thus indispensable to optimize classic sample preparation and furthermore implement additional steps. This work focuses on metallography additively manufactured Ti?6Al?4V produced in a selective laser melting process. It offers guideline for metallographic along chain additive from metal powder characterization macro- analysis melted sample. Apart developing parameters, selected etching methods were examined regard their practicality.