LAUSR

Abstract The components produced by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) generally require specific heat treatments in order to release the residual stresses induced during the additive manufacturing process. Post-processing treatments also play a significant role in obtaining components whose microstructure and characteristics are homogeneous and tailored for specific applications. A comparison of the mechanical features resulting from different heat treatments requires that a material showing the same initial mechanical features and microstructure is investigated. In the present work the effects of a number of different thermal post-processing treatments are compared: AlSi10Mg parts processed by LPBF underwent various thermal treatments such as stress relieving, annealing at high temperature and T6 treatments. The microstructure variation as a function of the applied temperature was correlated to the material mechanical behaviour in term of hardness and tensile strength; impact properties were also evaluated. The thermal evolution of the system was then studied through differential scanning calorimetry and x-ray diffraction analyses.