Effect of processing parameters in the additive manufacturing of A2 tool steel

Abstract

This project aims to investigate the effect of the main process parameters on the additive manufacturing of A2 tool steel. Samples with different geometries will be manufactured by the Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) and Direct Energy Deposition (DED) methods using different process parameters (scanning speed, power, hatching, scanning strategy and powder characteristics). The samples obtained will be characterized by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), optical microscopy (MO) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (MET), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) and Energy Dispersion X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The mechanical properties will be determined through tensile and fracture toughness tests. Thermodynamic calculations will also be performed using THERMOCALC for a better understanding of the phase formation and solidification of this alloy. The results obtained will be correlated with the process parameters used in order to understand the structure - processing - properties correlation. (AU)