Investigating the Structure, Microstructure, and Texture in Selective Laser-Melted Sterling Silver 925

The evolution of microstructure and texture during selective laser melting (SLM) of silver alloy-sterling silver 925 (AM Ag925) has been investigated and analyzed vis-a-vis cast sterling silver (AC Ag925). The microstructure of AM Ag925 was characterized by a single-phase silver-rich face-centered cubic solid solution with dendritic morphology, along with some locally distributed micro-segregated copper-germanium (Cu-Ge)-rich regions. Each adjacent dendritic feature consists of Ag-Cu-rich and Ag-Ge-rich regions and appears as alternate dark and bright regions. On the other hand, the as-cast AC Ag925 microstructure comprises Ag and Cu phases. Specific heat treatment was employed, which led to an equiaxed microstructure in AM Ag925 with Cu distributing along grain boundaries while the microstructure of AC Ag925 had Cu precipitates inside the matrix. Bulk texture studies revealed that the solidified textures were very weak for AM Ag925, and a random texture is observed. On the other hand, for the AC Ag925 specimens, a typical fiber texture is observed. Both AC Ag925 and AM Ag925 showed significant deviation from (100) solidification texture and influences the mechanical properties.

Automated summary

The microstructure and texture evolution of silver alloy-sterling silver 925 (AM Ag925) during selective laser melting (SLM) were analyzed and compared with cast sterling silver (AC Ag925). Specific heat treatment resulted in different microstructures for AM Ag925 and AC Ag925, leading to variations in mechanical properties. Both AM Ag925 and AC Ag925 exhibited deviations from the (100) solidification texture, impacting their overall performance.