Mitigating microstructural heterogeneity in laser-directed energy deposition Ni-based superalloys by heat accumulation in-situ heat treatment

The microstructure and mechanical properties of additively manufactured (AM) components often exhibit inherent heterogeneity due to their complex thermal histories. Building on conventional heat treatment strategies to mitigate microstructural heterogeneity, this study employed a continuous laser fo...

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Main Authors: Chen Yang, Haibo Tang, Zhuo Li, Ziheng Zeng, Shujing Shi, Yansong Zhang, Chunjie Shen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Virtual and Physical Prototyping
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17452759.2025.2509614
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author Chen Yang
Haibo Tang
Zhuo Li
Ziheng Zeng
Shujing Shi
Yansong Zhang
Chunjie Shen
author_facet Chen Yang
Haibo Tang
Zhuo Li
Ziheng Zeng
Shujing Shi
Yansong Zhang
Chunjie Shen
author_sort Chen Yang
collection DOAJ
description The microstructure and mechanical properties of additively manufactured (AM) components often exhibit inherent heterogeneity due to their complex thermal histories. Building on conventional heat treatment strategies to mitigate microstructural heterogeneity, this study employed a continuous laser forming method coupled with enhanced heat accumulation and the resulting in-situ heat treatment (IHT) to homogenise AM DD98 m samples. Results demonstrate that heat accumulation stabilises cooling rates at ∼65 K/s and maintains primary dendrite arm spacing (PDAS) at ∼55 μm. By promoting solid-state elemental diffusion, IHT significantly reduces elemental segregation, leading to extensive dissolution of γ-γ′ eutectic phases. Due to the IHT, the γ’ phase exhibits consistent volume fractions and comparable precipitate size distribution across specimens, yielding relatively homogeneous microhardness throughout the samples. Notably, the layered γ′ phase, previously underexplored in literature, is attributed to IHT-induced local Ostwald ripening, driven by aluminium (Al) diffusion gradients. This work successfully utilises IHT to control solid-state phase transformations, thereby reducing AM component heterogeneity. The findings advance strategies for tailoring microstructural uniformity in additive manufacturing, offering a novel pathway to mitigate microstructural heterogeneity in superalloys.
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institution OA Journals
issn 1745-2759
1745-2767
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publishDate 2025-12-01
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series Virtual and Physical Prototyping
spelling doaj-art-3d8ed1fd1fc04458ae1dbe8e30cae6482025-08-20T02:37:41ZengTaylor & Francis GroupVirtual and Physical Prototyping1745-27591745-27672025-12-0120110.1080/17452759.2025.2509614Mitigating microstructural heterogeneity in laser-directed energy deposition Ni-based superalloys by heat accumulation in-situ heat treatmentChen Yang0Haibo Tang1Zhuo Li2Ziheng Zeng3Shujing Shi4Yansong Zhang5Chunjie Shen6National Engineering Laboratory of Additive Manufacturing for Large Metallic Components, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaNational Engineering Laboratory of Additive Manufacturing for Large Metallic Components, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaNational Engineering Laboratory of Additive Manufacturing for Large Metallic Components, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaNational Engineering Laboratory of Additive Manufacturing for Large Metallic Components, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaNingbo Institute of Technology, Beihang University, Ningbo, People’s Republic of ChinaNational Engineering Laboratory of Additive Manufacturing for Large Metallic Components, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaNational Engineering Laboratory of Additive Manufacturing for Large Metallic Components, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaThe microstructure and mechanical properties of additively manufactured (AM) components often exhibit inherent heterogeneity due to their complex thermal histories. Building on conventional heat treatment strategies to mitigate microstructural heterogeneity, this study employed a continuous laser forming method coupled with enhanced heat accumulation and the resulting in-situ heat treatment (IHT) to homogenise AM DD98 m samples. Results demonstrate that heat accumulation stabilises cooling rates at ∼65 K/s and maintains primary dendrite arm spacing (PDAS) at ∼55 μm. By promoting solid-state elemental diffusion, IHT significantly reduces elemental segregation, leading to extensive dissolution of γ-γ′ eutectic phases. Due to the IHT, the γ’ phase exhibits consistent volume fractions and comparable precipitate size distribution across specimens, yielding relatively homogeneous microhardness throughout the samples. Notably, the layered γ′ phase, previously underexplored in literature, is attributed to IHT-induced local Ostwald ripening, driven by aluminium (Al) diffusion gradients. This work successfully utilises IHT to control solid-state phase transformations, thereby reducing AM component heterogeneity. The findings advance strategies for tailoring microstructural uniformity in additive manufacturing, offering a novel pathway to mitigate microstructural heterogeneity in superalloys.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17452759.2025.2509614Nickel-based superalloyslaser-directed energy depositionheat accumulation in-situ heat treatmentheterogeneitiessolid phase transformation
spellingShingle Chen Yang
Haibo Tang
Zhuo Li
Ziheng Zeng
Shujing Shi
Yansong Zhang
Chunjie Shen
Mitigating microstructural heterogeneity in laser-directed energy deposition Ni-based superalloys by heat accumulation in-situ heat treatment
Virtual and Physical Prototyping
Nickel-based superalloys
laser-directed energy deposition
heat accumulation in-situ heat treatment
heterogeneities
solid phase transformation
title Mitigating microstructural heterogeneity in laser-directed energy deposition Ni-based superalloys by heat accumulation in-situ heat treatment
title_full Mitigating microstructural heterogeneity in laser-directed energy deposition Ni-based superalloys by heat accumulation in-situ heat treatment
title_fullStr Mitigating microstructural heterogeneity in laser-directed energy deposition Ni-based superalloys by heat accumulation in-situ heat treatment
title_full_unstemmed Mitigating microstructural heterogeneity in laser-directed energy deposition Ni-based superalloys by heat accumulation in-situ heat treatment
title_short Mitigating microstructural heterogeneity in laser-directed energy deposition Ni-based superalloys by heat accumulation in-situ heat treatment
title_sort mitigating microstructural heterogeneity in laser directed energy deposition ni based superalloys by heat accumulation in situ heat treatment
topic Nickel-based superalloys
laser-directed energy deposition
heat accumulation in-situ heat treatment
heterogeneities
solid phase transformation
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17452759.2025.2509614
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