| Abstract Scope |
The transition to renewable and electrified energy systems demands metallic components that simultaneously offer high thermal/electrical conductivity, mechanical robustness, and geometrical complexity. Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) has the potential to enable such components, yet its application to highly reflective metals—particularly copper and copper-based alloys—remains limited by fundamental challenges in laser–matter interaction and defect formation. This talk introduces an integrated experimental platform developed in our lab that combines a custom blue-laser LPBF system with high-speed visible-light, thermal, schlieren, and synchrotron X-ray imaging. This multi-modal approach provides direct, time-resolved observation of melt pool dynamics, vapor/plasma behavior, and spattering phenomena specifically under short-wavelength, blue-laser–matter interactions. Complementary efforts in alloy design aim to expand the printable materials palette for energy-relevant applications requiring high conductivity and strength. Together, these capabilities form a foundation for imaging-driven process understanding and materials development. |