In-Situ Phase Transition Analysis of Conventional and Laser Beam Melted AlSi10Mg and X5CrNiCuNb16-4 Alloys: Dedicated to Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Peter Mayr on his 80th birthday

Abstract Although metallic materials processed by laser beam melting have significantly different microstructures compared to their conventional counterparts no adjusted heat treatment parameters have been published to date. Conventional heat treatment will therefore not always result in the desired mechanical properties. This project examines the effect of heat treatment on the properties of laser beam melted components produced with AlSi10Mg (EN AC-43000) precipitation hardening cast aluminium alloy and X5CrNiCuNb16-4 (1.4542 or 17-4 PH) martensitic precipitation hardening steel. Comparisons to conventionally manufactured material are made in parallel. The kinetics of phase transformation during heat treatment is analysed in-situ by means of differential scanning calorimetry (AlSi10Mg and X5CrNiCuNb16-4) and dilatometry (X5CrNiCuNb16-4). The results show considerable differences in phase transformation kinetics between laser beam melted and conventionally processed materials.