Additive Manufacturing: Laser Metal Deposition and Effect of Preheating on Properties of Deposited Ti-4822-4 Alloy

Abstract

Three-dimensional printing has evolved into an advanced laser additive manufacturing (AM) process with capacity of directly producing parts through CAD model. AM technology parts are fabricated through layer by layer build-up additive process. AM technology cuts down material wastage, reduces buy-to-fly ratio, fabricates complex parts, and repairs damaged old functional components. Titanium aluminide alloys fall under the group of intermetallic compounds known for high temperature applications and display of superior physical and mechanical properties, which made them most sort after in the aeronautic, energy, and automobile industries. Laser metal deposition is an AM process used in the repair and fabrication of solid components but sometimes associated with thermal induced stresses which sometimes led to cracks in deposited parts. This chapter looks at some AM processes with more emphasis on laser metal deposition technique, effect of LMD processing parameters, and preheating of substrate on the physical, microstructural, and mechanical properties of components produced through AM process.