Evolution in microstructure and mechanical properties of Cu alloy during wire and arc additive manufacture

Abstract

In this study, the evolution in microstructure, phase, microhardness and tensile behavior of a Cu-8Al alloy plate during the wire and arc additive manufacture (WAAM) process were investigated. The results reveal that the as-deposited CuAl alloy is composed of coarse dendrites, which gradually transform into relatively fine columnar grains under heat effect, and then the size of the columnar grains increases until becomes stable at the location a few millimeters from the top of the plate. Dendrite segregation of Al exists at the as-deposited region and can be eliminated under heat-effect of the later passes, resulting in homogenization of composition and microstructure. The microhardness at the plate top is about HV160, but decreases sharply to about HV80 when the Al segregation is eliminated and the dendrites transform. In-situ tensile tests reveal that the CuAl plate shows high tensile strength (∼400 MPa) and high elongation (∼50%). Both dislocation slip and grain rotation were observed during the tensile process, and all the specimens showed a dimple fracture mode. Generally, the thin-walled CuAl alloy plate prepared by WAAM is uniform and shows high mechanical property, while a local post heat treatment at relative low temperature is necessary in some conditions.

Keywords

wire and arc additive manufacturing / CuAl alloy / dendrite segregation / grain transformation / microhardness

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