Processing and microstructural characterization of the Fe-3% Si alloy obtained via additive manufacturing and subsequent thermomechanical processing: a novel hybrid approach

Abstract

This research project aims to obtain thin sheets of an electric steel (Fe-3% Si) through a novel hybrid approach involving processing via powder bed laser fusion (LPBF) followed by traditional thermomechanical processing. The powder used to manufacture the plates will be characterized in the as-received condition. Based on its chemical composition, computational thermodynamic calculations will be performed to predict and quantify the phases formed. The plates processed by laser powder-bed fusion with a beam power varying between 180 and 400 W. Initially, two scanning strategies will be adopted: 90°-rotation and no rotation between the layers to intensify Goss and/or cube texture component. After LPBF-processing, the nature of the nanoparticle dispersion will be analyzed and the constructed plates will be cold rolled and annealed for subsequent monitoring of the primary recrystallization and abnormal grain growth processes. The microstructural characterization will be performed on the samples in the as-built, as-rolled, and as annealed conditions by means of light optical and scanning electron microscopy. The microtexture will be determined electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and the visualization of the discrepancy structure will be performed by means of images obtained by electron channeling contrast (ECCI). The characterization of the dispersion of nanoparticles will be performed with the aid of transmission electron microscopy (MET) and dislocation density will be estimated from X-ray diffraction measurements via the modified Williamson-Hall method. (AU)