About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Additive Manufacturing of Metals: Multiscale and Non-Equilibrium Solidification Fundamentals
|
| Presentation Title |
Enhancing AA6061 Alloy Printability during the LPBF Process through Zr and TiB₂ Additions and Process Parameter Optimization |
| Author(s) |
SWATHI TUDUMU, PIKEE PRIYA |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
SWATHI TUDUMU |
| Abstract Scope |
Additive manufacturing of AA6061 using the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) process is limited by defects such as cracks and porosity, resulting from its wide solidification range. Despite efforts to optimize processing parameters for unmodified AA6061, issues like cracking and porosity persist. This study explores compositional modification and process parameter optimization to improve printability and mechanical performance. The addition of external TiB₂ and Zr particles resulting in AA6061/TiB₂ and AA6061/Zr modified powders, promoted the in-situ formation of Al₃Ti and Al₃Zr inoculants, leading to effective grain refinement. The as-built AA6061/Zr-modified alloy exhibited a bimodal grain structure, with the fine-grained area fraction increasing to 83%, which is expected to enhance isotropic mechanical properties. Increasing TiB₂ and Zr content significantly reduced solidification cracking by suppressing the epitaxial growth of columnar grains. Heat treatment of the AA6061/Zr-modified alloy enhanced Al₃Zr precipitation, leading to improved tensile strength compared to as-built and as-cast conditions. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Additive Manufacturing, Aluminum, Characterization |