Determining the best hatch distances for selective laser melted SiC/Ti6Al4V(ELI) composites of different volume fractions of SiC
The goal of this research was to determine the best hatch distances for different SiC volume fractions of selective laser sintered SiC/Ti6Al4V(ELI) composites. The constituents of this composite have different thermal physical properties, which give rise to different melt characteristics of differen...
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2025-03-01
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| author | Masenate Thamae Maina Maringa Willie Bouwer du Preez |
| author_facet | Masenate Thamae Maina Maringa Willie Bouwer du Preez |
| author_sort | Masenate Thamae |
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| description | The goal of this research was to determine the best hatch distances for different SiC volume fractions of selective laser sintered SiC/Ti6Al4V(ELI) composites. The constituents of this composite have different thermal physical properties, which give rise to different melt characteristics of different SiC volume fractions. Non-overlapped tracks lead to debonding of the layers and the production of pores, which degrade the mechanical qualities of the final additively manufactured parts, whereas high overlap rates lead to inefficient use of material and long build times of parts. As a result, different hatch distances should be explored to determine the best overlap rate for each SiC volume fraction. To print single layers in the present work, different laser powers ranging from 100 W to 350 W and scanning speeds ranging from 0.3 m/s to 2.7 m/s were used. The single layers for each SiC volume fraction were built with different hatch distances of 50 μm, 60 μm, 70 μm, 80 μm, 90 μm, 100 μm, and 110 μm. The parameters of laser power, scanning speed and therefore, linear energy density, as well as layer thickness, for each SiC volume fraction were kept constant. A cross-sectional analysis of the printed layers was performed with a scanning electron microscope to investigate the degree of overlapping of adjacent tracks, internal pores, and variation in the depth of penetration into the substrate in a single layer, while a top-surface analysis was performed to investigate surface roughness, surface interconnection of the adjacent tracks, and the formation of surface irregularities. The data collected and analysis carried out here yielded values of best hatch distances at SiC volume fractions ranging from 5 % to 25 %, while no best hatch distances were achieved at an SiC volume fraction of 30 %. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e1169994d4db4be6b99bc1e57ab9a14f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2590-048X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Results in Materials |
| spelling | doaj-art-e1169994d4db4be6b99bc1e57ab9a14f2025-08-20T02:47:49ZengElsevierResults in Materials2590-048X2025-03-012510065210.1016/j.rinma.2024.100652Determining the best hatch distances for selective laser melted SiC/Ti6Al4V(ELI) composites of different volume fractions of SiCMasenate Thamae0Maina Maringa1Willie Bouwer du Preez2Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, Central University of Technology, Free State, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa; Corresponding author.Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, Central University of Technology, Free State, Bloemfontein, 9301, South AfricaCentre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing, Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, Central University of Technology, Free State, Bloemfontein, 9301, South AfricaThe goal of this research was to determine the best hatch distances for different SiC volume fractions of selective laser sintered SiC/Ti6Al4V(ELI) composites. The constituents of this composite have different thermal physical properties, which give rise to different melt characteristics of different SiC volume fractions. Non-overlapped tracks lead to debonding of the layers and the production of pores, which degrade the mechanical qualities of the final additively manufactured parts, whereas high overlap rates lead to inefficient use of material and long build times of parts. As a result, different hatch distances should be explored to determine the best overlap rate for each SiC volume fraction. To print single layers in the present work, different laser powers ranging from 100 W to 350 W and scanning speeds ranging from 0.3 m/s to 2.7 m/s were used. The single layers for each SiC volume fraction were built with different hatch distances of 50 μm, 60 μm, 70 μm, 80 μm, 90 μm, 100 μm, and 110 μm. The parameters of laser power, scanning speed and therefore, linear energy density, as well as layer thickness, for each SiC volume fraction were kept constant. A cross-sectional analysis of the printed layers was performed with a scanning electron microscope to investigate the degree of overlapping of adjacent tracks, internal pores, and variation in the depth of penetration into the substrate in a single layer, while a top-surface analysis was performed to investigate surface roughness, surface interconnection of the adjacent tracks, and the formation of surface irregularities. The data collected and analysis carried out here yielded values of best hatch distances at SiC volume fractions ranging from 5 % to 25 %, while no best hatch distances were achieved at an SiC volume fraction of 30 %.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590048X24001262Hatch distanceOverlap rateSingle layersMechanical properties |
| spellingShingle | Masenate Thamae Maina Maringa Willie Bouwer du Preez Determining the best hatch distances for selective laser melted SiC/Ti6Al4V(ELI) composites of different volume fractions of SiC Results in Materials Hatch distance Overlap rate Single layers Mechanical properties |
| title | Determining the best hatch distances for selective laser melted SiC/Ti6Al4V(ELI) composites of different volume fractions of SiC |
| title_full | Determining the best hatch distances for selective laser melted SiC/Ti6Al4V(ELI) composites of different volume fractions of SiC |
| title_fullStr | Determining the best hatch distances for selective laser melted SiC/Ti6Al4V(ELI) composites of different volume fractions of SiC |
| title_full_unstemmed | Determining the best hatch distances for selective laser melted SiC/Ti6Al4V(ELI) composites of different volume fractions of SiC |
| title_short | Determining the best hatch distances for selective laser melted SiC/Ti6Al4V(ELI) composites of different volume fractions of SiC |
| title_sort | determining the best hatch distances for selective laser melted sic ti6al4v eli composites of different volume fractions of sic |
| topic | Hatch distance Overlap rate Single layers Mechanical properties |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590048X24001262 |
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