Metal Additive Manufacturing Conference - MAMC 2023

In the context of additive manufacturing, bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) are a type of material that has gained attention due to their potential for producing large and intricate parts. However, when using the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technique to 3D print BMGs, there are challenges associated with the reheating of previously solidified layers during the process. This reheating can impact the structural relaxation of the solidified layers. The reheating can lead to annihilation of free volume and negatively affect the ductility of the material at room temperature, making it more brittle. To address this issue, the researchers in this investigation explored how different laser and process parameters can modify the thermal history of the BMG during LPBF. By adjusting these parameters, they aimed to mitigate the negative effects of reheating on the relaxation enthalpy. To characterize the changes in the material, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used, which measures the amount of heat absorbed or released by the material as it undergoes thermal changes. This enables to analysis the relaxation behavior and energy state of the 3D-printed Zr-based BMG, providing insights into how the material's properties are affected by the LPBF process.