About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Environmental Degradation of Additively Manufactured Materials
|
| Presentation Title |
Oxidation-Induced Changes in Melt Pool Dynamics and Defect Formation in LPBF of GRCop-42 |
| Author(s) |
Kwan Kim, Lucrezia Giubila, Shishira Bhagavath, Samy Hocine, Wei Li, Rubén Lambert-Garcia, Sebastian Marussi, Marta Majkut, Alexander Rack, Joseph Oluleke, Peter Lee, Chu Lun Alex Leung |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Kwan Kim |
| Abstract Scope |
Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) offers advantages in fabricating complex metal components with fine spatial resolution, often reaching just a few microns. Recently, this technology has been applied to the fabrication of GRCop-42, a high-conductivity Cu-Cr-Nb alloy, for use in demanding aerospace applications such as rocket engine liners, notably by SpaceX. However, the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of LPBF processes depend on the reusability of the powder and a deeper understanding of how oxygen-induced surface oxides affect thermal and fluidic behavior during manufacturing. This study investigates the effects of powder oxidation on the melt pool dynamics of GRCop-42. Comparative analysis between virgin and oxidized powder conditions was performed using synchrotron X-ray imaging to resolve melt pool morphology and pore formation in situ. These findings lay the groundwork for developing qualification criteria for the reuse of oxidized powders in LPBF, enabling informed process control and promoting long-term sustainability in metal additive manufacturing. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Additive Manufacturing, Recycling and Secondary Recovery, Characterization |