Tribological, microstructural and surface characteristics of additively manufactured AlSi10Mg to sequential vibratory peening and heat treatment

Abstract

Secondary operations are frequently necessary to address issues with components produced by selective laser melting (SLM), such as internal defects, stress accumulation, and rough surfaces. This study investigated the effects of T6 heat treatment (HT), vibratory peening (VP) on AlSi10Mg alloy at different temperatures and different durations and both single and multiple condition. The solution treatment temperature was applied at 400 degrees C, 450 degrees C and 500 degrees C and VP was applied for 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 min. The changes in microstructural, hardness and wear properties in as-built (AB), vibratory peened of AB (AB+VP), heat treated of AB (AB+HT) and heat treated/vibratory peened of AB (AB+HT+VP) samples were investigated. Though SLM left the microstructure unaffected, the existence of Si precipitates and their growth with increasing solution temperature suggested the necessity for heat treatment. Vibratory peening was used to harden the surfaces; the impact become more noticeable the longer the VP remained active. A more obvious hardness increase came at higher solution temperature. In every setting, VP increases wear resistance. Even although the HT samples' hardness had decreased, wear losses did, in fact, diminish considerably, especially following VP treatment.