Heat Treatment of Additively Manufactured Metals

As metal additive manufacturing (AM) matures, heat treatments need to be adjusted to accommodate the unique condition of the material. The complicated thermal history caused by AM processes leads to microstructures that are not typically seen in wrought, cast or powder metallurgy material.

Current heat treatment standards have been investigated for AM materials with variable success. ‘Traditional’ heat treatment standards were developed for different microstructural ‘starting points’, hence why they lead to variable results for AM material.

Hence, heat treatment should be adjusted to accommodate the unique condition of AM materials. This adjustment can involve changing temperatures, holding times, environment and cooling methods. Adjusting heat treatments can also allow for modifying AM microstructure, such as decreasing material anisotropy between the build and transverse directions.

This webinar will discuss general points around heat treatment and the possible adjustments to accommodate the AM material condition. Case studies of ‘traditional’ and adjusted heat treatments on a variety of materials will also be presented.

For more information, please contact [email protected]