| Abstract Scope |
Thanks to rapid cooling rates and small melt pool sizes, selective laser melting (SLM) can be used to create novel alloys difficult or impossible to achieve otherwise. Two examples are showcased to demonstrate the potential of such an innovative approach. First, a new strategy for producing future alloys with significantly enhanced performances was conceived through the hybridisation of different microstructures from existing alloys to generate a "composite of microstructures". A hybrid titanium from two existing alloys, one alpha/beta and one metastable beta, was designed and produced by SLM. An excellent combination of high strength, work hardening rate and ductility was achieved, superior to conventional Ti. In the second case, a fully martensitic alpha/beta alloy was shown to possess good ductility comparable to or better than the conventional counterpart. This novel approach can be applied to a vast variety of metals beyond Ti, heralding the coming era of microstructure-by-design. |