Tribology of Metal Additively Manufactured Materials

Metal Additive Manufacturing (MAM) is an improved version of Additive Manufacturing (AM) that transformed AM into industrial manufacturing for building high-performance functional end-use components. MAM techniques use high-power sources for melting feedstock material. MAM processes can be largely categorized as per the material feeding techniques such as Powder Bed Fusion and Directed Energy Deposition. MAM finds application in aerospace, automotive, nuclear, and medical sectors. It is essential to understand the structure-property correlation of MAM-built components in as-built and post-processed conditions to qualify the material for various applications. The tribological properties of MAM components are significant for applications that require excellent surface properties. Thus, the present chapter explains the tribological behaviour of MAM parts. Firstly, a review of the different MAM processes is described. Further, the influence of the process parameters on wear characteristics is explained along with the effect of surface roughness. The influence of microstructure and texture on the tribological behaviour of MAM-built parts is also explained. A review of post-processing and its influence on the tribological behaviour of MAM-built parts is also presented. The chapter will be a reference material for novices and researchers working on MAM and tribological behaviour.