| Abstract Scope |
Cu-10Sn alloys fabricated using the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process possess higher mechanical and physical performance than alloys built by conventional methods. However, Cu-10Sn alloys made using LPBF can also exhibit defects like point defects and dislocations. To mitigate these, a low-temperature heat treatment was examined. This study assessed the impact of such heat treatment on LPBF-made Cu-10Sn alloys. The properties of these alloys were studied, both in the as-fabricated (AF) condition and after low-temperature treatments at 140, 180, 220, 260, and 300°C. Notably, the low-temperature heat treatment did not alter phase structures or microstructures significantly. Among the heat-treated samples, the one treated at 180 °C showed the highest hardness. All heat-treated samples outperformed AF samples in thermal diffusivity. To understand atomic-level defects before and after heat treatment, positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy tests were executed. Transmission electron microscopy will further explore hardness and thermal diffusivity variations in AF ... |