Influence of the scanning strategy on the microstructure and the tribological behavior of a Ni-based superalloy processed by L-PBF additive manufacturing

The ABD-900AM is a newly developed nickel-based alloy specifically designed for additive manufacturing, and it can be printed using a wide range of process parameters. This alloy, combined with the L-PBF process, allows for the production of dense parts with reference microstructures that are multi-scale, and facilitates the study of the links between these microstructures and their tribological behaviors. To study the relationships between microstructures and tribological behaviors, the parts are built vertically without interlayer rotation. The plane studied are obtained with three scanning directions : 0 ° , 45 ° and 90 ° . These angles allow to generate different microstructures on the planes on which are conducted the microstructural characterizations and tribological tests, for which the sliding direction is always parallel to the building direction. This choice of parameter enables access to different crystallographic textures (200) and (111), and cellular structures with varying morphologies and homogeneity within the melt pools. Tribological tests were performed on these microstructures in a ball-on-flat configuration with alternating motion, without lubrication, and at room temperature. For the three laser angles (0°, 45°, and 90°), the wear volumes are 0.60 ± 0.12 mm 3 , 0.81 ± 0.15 mm 3 , and 1.00 ± 0.09 mm 3 , respectively. The wear resistance is primarily related to the amount of oxide layers formed on the wear track of the samples. • Generation of various granular and cellular structures. • Dense parts obtained for every scanning strategy thanks to the alloy’s printability. • Wear resistance linked to the development of protective tribolayers.