Multimaterial Additive Manufacturing of Graded Laves Phase Reinforced NiAlTa Structures by Means of Laser Metal Deposition

Recently, the additive manufacturing (AM) technology laser metal deposition (LMD) has gained a lot of attention for processing crack prone high temperature materials such as nickel-based superalloys or intermetallics. A feasibility study on LMD graded transition from binary ß-NiAl to Ni50Al42Ta8 is presented with aim show possibility ß-NiAl-based structures spatially resolved microstructure and subsequently tailored mechanical properties. For achieving this, alloys Ni50Al50 are coinjected into process zone powder feeding rates adapted in layerwise manner. Due preheating temperatures up 1000 °C, can be manufactured relative density low degree cold cracking. Scanning electron microscopy shows formation fine dendritic consisting NiAlTa interdendritic regions. Large area energy-dispersive X-ray analysis reveals gradient Laves phase content increasing build height. The observed volume fraction corresponds well reported values cast ingots. Finally, hardness measurements along build-up direction an increase 300 HV0.1 680 indicating tremendous tensile strength.