Deconvoluting cracking mechanisms in fusion processing of steel-copper multi-materials via Operando X-ray characterisation

This study investigates various cracking mechanisms and their prevalence in fusion processing of steel-copper multi-materials using operando X-ray diffraction and imaging during laser powder-bed fusion (LPBF) of 316L-CuCrZr multi-material. During this investigation, three main types of cracking were...

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Main Authors: Andaç Özsoy, William A. Hearn, Steve Gaudez, Rijuta Jeswani, Yunhui Chen, Alexander Rack, Zoltan Hegedüs, Nicola Casati, Roland E. Logé, Steven Van Petegem
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/10.1080/17452759.2025.2526798
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author Andaç Özsoy
William A. Hearn
Steve Gaudez
Rijuta Jeswani
Yunhui Chen
Alexander Rack
Zoltan Hegedüs
Nicola Casati
Roland E. Logé
Steven Van Petegem
author_facet Andaç Özsoy
William A. Hearn
Steve Gaudez
Rijuta Jeswani
Yunhui Chen
Alexander Rack
Zoltan Hegedüs
Nicola Casati
Roland E. Logé
Steven Van Petegem
author_sort Andaç Özsoy
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates various cracking mechanisms and their prevalence in fusion processing of steel-copper multi-materials using operando X-ray diffraction and imaging during laser powder-bed fusion (LPBF) of 316L-CuCrZr multi-material. During this investigation, three main types of cracking were identified: (i) solidification cracking, (ii) metal-induced embrittlement (MIE), and (iii) liquation cracking. All cracking types are closely related to phase formation during processing and stem from two underlying mechanisms. First, liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) and the monotectic reaction in the 316L-CuCrZr system cause two liquids with vastly different solidification ranges to form, leading to solidification cracking. Second, LLPS and the monotectic reaction uniformly distribute Cu-rich liquid between the Fe-rich dendrites, leading to MIE and/or liquation cracking. Conducted based on the insights gained from the operando characterisation, further experiments showed that cracking can be drastically reduced by avoiding phase separation. However, the complete elimination of cracking necessitates chemical alterations in the material feedstock, indicating that while process adjustments can mitigate cracking, they may fail to fully prevent it. These findings serve as a guideline for understanding the underlying causes of cracking in steel-copper multi-materials, how process optimisation can effectively mitigate cracking, and to what extent such adjustments in processing can achieve this outcome.
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spelling doaj-art-a02851b9e8334690b7f856bc3bb62d1e2025-08-20T02:36:08ZengTaylor & Francis GroupVirtual and Physical Prototyping1745-27591745-27672025-12-0120110.1080/17452759.2025.2526798Deconvoluting cracking mechanisms in fusion processing of steel-copper multi-materials via Operando X-ray characterisationAndaç Özsoy0William A. Hearn1Steve Gaudez2Rijuta Jeswani3Yunhui Chen4Alexander Rack5Zoltan Hegedüs6Nicola Casati7Roland E. Logé8Steven Van Petegem9Laboratory for Condensed Matter, PSI Center for Photon Science, Villigen, SwitzerlandLaboratory for Condensed Matter, PSI Center for Photon Science, Villigen, SwitzerlandLaboratory for Condensed Matter, PSI Center for Photon Science, Villigen, SwitzerlandLaboratory for Condensed Matter, PSI Center for Photon Science, Villigen, SwitzerlandRMIT Centre for Additive Manufacturing, RMIT University, Melbourne, AustraliaESRF – The European Synchrotron, Grenoble, FranceDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, GermanyLaboratory for Condensed Matter, PSI Center for Photon Science, Villigen, SwitzerlandLaboratory of Thermomechanical Metallurgy (LMTM), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Neuchatel, SwitzerlandLaboratory for Condensed Matter, PSI Center for Photon Science, Villigen, SwitzerlandThis study investigates various cracking mechanisms and their prevalence in fusion processing of steel-copper multi-materials using operando X-ray diffraction and imaging during laser powder-bed fusion (LPBF) of 316L-CuCrZr multi-material. During this investigation, three main types of cracking were identified: (i) solidification cracking, (ii) metal-induced embrittlement (MIE), and (iii) liquation cracking. All cracking types are closely related to phase formation during processing and stem from two underlying mechanisms. First, liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) and the monotectic reaction in the 316L-CuCrZr system cause two liquids with vastly different solidification ranges to form, leading to solidification cracking. Second, LLPS and the monotectic reaction uniformly distribute Cu-rich liquid between the Fe-rich dendrites, leading to MIE and/or liquation cracking. Conducted based on the insights gained from the operando characterisation, further experiments showed that cracking can be drastically reduced by avoiding phase separation. However, the complete elimination of cracking necessitates chemical alterations in the material feedstock, indicating that while process adjustments can mitigate cracking, they may fail to fully prevent it. These findings serve as a guideline for understanding the underlying causes of cracking in steel-copper multi-materials, how process optimisation can effectively mitigate cracking, and to what extent such adjustments in processing can achieve this outcome.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17452759.2025.2526798Multi-materialCrackingAdditive manufacturingOperando X-rayFunctionally graded materials (FGM)
spellingShingle Andaç Özsoy
William A. Hearn
Steve Gaudez
Rijuta Jeswani
Yunhui Chen
Alexander Rack
Zoltan Hegedüs
Nicola Casati
Roland E. Logé
Steven Van Petegem
Deconvoluting cracking mechanisms in fusion processing of steel-copper multi-materials via Operando X-ray characterisation
Virtual and Physical Prototyping
Multi-material
Cracking
Additive manufacturing
Operando X-ray
Functionally graded materials (FGM)
title Deconvoluting cracking mechanisms in fusion processing of steel-copper multi-materials via Operando X-ray characterisation
title_full Deconvoluting cracking mechanisms in fusion processing of steel-copper multi-materials via Operando X-ray characterisation
title_fullStr Deconvoluting cracking mechanisms in fusion processing of steel-copper multi-materials via Operando X-ray characterisation
title_full_unstemmed Deconvoluting cracking mechanisms in fusion processing of steel-copper multi-materials via Operando X-ray characterisation
title_short Deconvoluting cracking mechanisms in fusion processing of steel-copper multi-materials via Operando X-ray characterisation
title_sort deconvoluting cracking mechanisms in fusion processing of steel copper multi materials via operando x ray characterisation
topic Multi-material
Cracking
Additive manufacturing
Operando X-ray
Functionally graded materials (FGM)
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17452759.2025.2526798
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