Fabrication of preferentially oriented Al4043 alloy and its wear anisotropy

The multilayered Al4043 alloy was successfully fabricated in a preferred orientation using Cold Metal Transfer (CMT) based Additive Manufacturing (AM). The Electron Backscattered Diffraction (EBSD) analysis over the fabricated component probed that the CMT torch angle played a huge role in achieving preferred orientation and texture. Sample built with torch angle of 10 degrees exhibited predominantly < 1 1 1 > texture and sample built with 15 degrees torch angle showed < 1 0 1 > textured grains. Microstructural analysis revealed that the fabricated component was configured with columnar dendrites and little equiaxed grains. The XRD pattern revealed that Mg2Si and Al9Si multiphase precipitates were discretely present in remnant alpha-Al matrix. The fabricated components were subjected to wear analysis in two different sliding directions namely parallel and perpendicular to the direction of columnar dendrite growth. Topographical maps and worn morphology quantified that irrespective of the texture, the sliding direction of the intender showed a greater impact on wear resistance. In both the textured components intender sliding perpendicular to the columnar dendrite growth direction was characterized with superior wear resistance than parallel direction. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.