New compositions and microstructure evolution of High-entropy alloys for the next generation 3D-printing

Dr. Rocco Lupoi
Email: [javascript protected email address]
Tel: +353 1 896 1729

JanMell Dugenio
Email: dugenioj@tcd.ie

Description

High Entropy Alloys (HEAs), comprising of at least five principal metal elements in equal or near equimolar concentrations emerged as a new class of high performance materials due to their unique and excellent mechanical properties such as high strength, fracture toughness, fatigue/corrosion resistance. These alloys hold great potential, and suitability under critical conditions in a variety of industrial applications such as in aerospace, energy and medical devices. This project explores a novel approach to manufacture HEAs thru additive manufacturing (AM) techniques. The fabrication of materials layer-upon-layer in Additive Manufacturing (AM) offers new ways of making lightweight components with optimized complex structures. However, major challenges remain for the successful realization of AM especially in elucidating the relationship between printability, composition and microstructure of HEAs. In this project, this relationship will be studied for both Powder Bed Fusion and Solid-State Additive Manufacturing by examining key thermodynamic properties, material characterization and the fabrication process. Moreover, rapid solidification behaviour from these additive manufacturing processes will be studied under microgravity conditions which may influence the formation of solid solutions and may give rise to novel, interesting properties. A comprehensive characterisation of the microstructure and deformation behaviour is carried out using a range of advanced characterisation methods such as, but not limited to, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD).