Influence of a Hydrogen Addition to the Inert Gas and Subsequent Heat Treatments on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Magnesium WE43 Fabricated by PBF-LB/M

authored by: Arvid Abel, Elmar Jonas Breitbach, Hannes Holländer, Michael Müller, Tjorben Griemsmann, Christian Klose, Jörg Hermsdorf, Hans Jürgen Maier, Stefan Kaierle, Ludger Overmeyer
Abstract: Additive manufacturing of magnesium alloys shows great potential for producing patient-specific resorbable implants or lightweight parts. However, due to the reactive behavior, especially in the laser-based powder bed fusion (PBF-LB) fabrication process, the processing window to manufacture almost pore-free parts is narrow compared to other materials such as titanium or steel. This article investigates optimal processing conditions for the PBF-LB/M of WE43. To reduce the reactivity of the magnesium melt by limiting the interaction with remaining oxygen, a 3 vol% hydrogen admixture to the argon inert gas is investigated. Furthermore, long-duration heat treatments are investigated in the range of 250–350 °C for 48 h. This study evaluates the impact of both methods on mechanical properties and microstructure. Although hydrogen seems to have no significant influence on the relative density, the microstructure, and the phase composition, it can slightly increase the tensile strength and elongation at break in the as-built state. A heat treatment of 250 °C can increase the elongation at the break without impeding the tensile strength.
Organisation(s): Institute of Materials Science
Institute of Transport and Automation Technology
External Organisation(s): Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH)
Type: Article
Journal: Advanced engineering materials
ISSN: 1438-1656
Publication date: 2025
Publication status: Accepted/In press
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: General Materials Science, Condensed Matter Physics
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1002/adem.202402704 (Access: Open)

BibTeX

@article{55daf2ad0f1b4c8dac710cfad088bc17,
title = "Influence of a Hydrogen Addition to the Inert Gas and Subsequent Heat Treatments on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Magnesium WE43 Fabricated by PBF-LB/M",
abstract = "Additive manufacturing of magnesium alloys shows great potential for producing patient-specific resorbable implants or lightweight parts. However, due to the reactive behavior, especially in the laser-based powder bed fusion (PBF-LB) fabrication process, the processing window to manufacture almost pore-free parts is narrow compared to other materials such as titanium or steel. This article investigates optimal processing conditions for the PBF-LB/M of WE43. To reduce the reactivity of the magnesium melt by limiting the interaction with remaining oxygen, a 3 vol% hydrogen admixture to the argon inert gas is investigated. Furthermore, long-duration heat treatments are investigated in the range of 250–350 °C for 48 h. This study evaluates the impact of both methods on mechanical properties and microstructure. Although hydrogen seems to have no significant influence on the relative density, the microstructure, and the phase composition, it can slightly increase the tensile strength and elongation at break in the as-built state. A heat treatment of 250 °C can increase the elongation at the break without impeding the tensile strength.",
keywords = "additive manufacturing, heat treatments, hydrogen, laser-based powder bed fusion, magnesium, microstructure, WE43",
author = "Arvid Abel and Breitbach, {Elmar Jonas} and Hannes Holl{\"a}nder and Michael M{\"u}ller and Tjorben Griemsmann and Christian Klose and J{\"o}rg Hermsdorf and Maier, {Hans J{\"u}rgen} and Stefan Kaierle and Ludger Overmeyer",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Author(s). Advanced Engineering Materials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.",
year = "2025",
doi = "10.1002/adem.202402704",
language = "English",
journal = "Advanced engineering materials",
issn = "1438-1656",
publisher = "Wiley-VCH Verlag",
}