Effect of path strategy on microstructure and mechanical properties of double-pulse arc additive manufacturing

Due to the lack of research on the effects of different deposition paths of the double-pulse arc on the forming quality, this study investigates the evolution of microstructure and the development of mechanical properties in multi-layer deposition structures under various deposition path strategies. The paper aims to explore the application of double-pulse arc additive manufacturing technology in metal parts fabrication, focusing on the microstructural evolution and mechanical property changes of final samples formed by multi-layer deposition weld beads under different processing paths. By comparing the temperature variation patterns in unidirectional and reciprocal deposition paths, the impact of thermal accumulation on the sample’s performance is examined. Through temperature measurements, macroscopic observation, microscopic analysis, tensile testing, and scanning electron microscopy, it is found that different deposition strategies affect the deposition quality. The results indicate that in double-pulse arc additive manufacturing, the overall performance of samples with reciprocal deposition paths is superior to those with unidirectional deposition, but the reciprocal deposition samples contain more small bubbles, leading to instability in tensile performance. By properly controlling path planning, deposition morphology can be effectively adjusted to meet specific structural requirements.