Effect of Cryogenic Treatment on the Microstructure of AlSi10Mg Alloy Produced by Selective Laser Melting

Abstract

Research on the production of AlSi10Mg alloys using Selective Laser Melting (SLM), one of the additive manufacturing methods, is still ongoing. Since the use of SLM-fabricated parts in the as-built condition is not yet feasible, studies have particularly focused on post-processing. Moreover, the heat treatment parameters established for AlSi10Mg alloys produced by conventional methods do not necessarily show the same effects when applied to AM parts. Cryogenic treatment, which has been shown to have favorable effects for AlSi10Mg parts in the literature, and it increased the mechanical properties. In this study, AlSi10Mg block production was carried out via SLM using the predetermined process parameters and samples extracted from it. Then those samples were subjected to T6 heat treatment followed by cryogenic treatment for 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours. Subsequently, the samples were analyzed using optical microscopes to determine their microstructure and composition. Microstructural examinations showed that the effect of T6 heat treatment is the Si particle occurrence in Al matrix, after cryogenic treatment these particles changed relatively as the duration of cryogenic treatment changed.