Anisotropy of nickel-based superalloy K418 fabricated by selective laser melting

Selective laser melting (SLM) is a promising additive manufacturing (AM) technology for fabricating the near net-shaped parts by selectively melting and solidifying a thin powder layer with a high-intensity laser beam according to the CAD data for arbitrary components. In this work, Ni-based superalloy K418 samples were fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM). To evaluate the anisotropic mechanical behavior of the SLM processed K418 samples with layer-by-layer melting, the samples were manufactured parallel (transverse specimens) and vertical (longitudinal specimens) to the building direction on the substrate. The microstructural anisotropy analysis was performed by optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis was used to identify their crystallographic preferred orientation (texture) and to correlate the anisotropy of the mechanical strength with the texture of the material. The results showed that the transverse specimens had slightly higher yield strength, but much significantly higher ductility than that of the transverse specimens with the elongated columnar grains along the building direction.