Investigating Microstructure, Texture, and Mechanical Properties in Haynes 282 Manufactured by Laser Powder Bed Fusion

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) has allowed for the manufacture of complex components using a wide variety of alloys. However, there are many variables in the process which can influence the performance of printed parts. These printing parameters generally need to be refined to limit defects such as porosity. However, they also influence the microstructure and texture of the printed parts, and thus there is an opportunity to control these features through careful parameter selection. The microstructure and texture will affect the mechanical properties of printed parts, so parameter selection can also be used to influence mechanical performance.

Furthermore, post-printing operations, such as heat treatments, can also change the microstructure, and thus influence the part properties. For precipitation-strengthened alloys such as Haynes 282 (H282), heat treatment after printing is generally needed. This means that along with understanding how the printing parameters affect the as-printed microstructure of the parts, it is also important to understand how the microstructure can change under different heat treatment conditions.

In this work, H282 is printed with varying process parameters and subjected to different post-printing heat treatments. Variations in the microstructure and texture resulting from the varied processing conditions are analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) backscatter electron (BSE) imaging, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and x-ray diffraction (XRD). Mechanical properties of the printed H282 are also studied through tensile and creep testing. Combined, the results of this work allow for a greater understanding of the process-structure-property relationships for LPBF-manufactured H282.