Experimental Analysis of Metal Inert Gas Based Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing of Aluminum Nanocomposite AA7075

Abstract

This work studies Metal Inert Gas (MIG) based Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) for nanoparticle enhanced AA7075. MIG WAAM is important for production and large structures due to its high deposition rates compared to Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) or powder-based AM processes. Both MIG and TIG take advantage of wire feedstock, which is more readily available than powdered metals since the welding technology has been established for decades. Powder based processes allow for more complicated geometries but take significantly more time to produce and can suffer from voids which lead to non-uniform part density. TIG is normally used in welding of aluminum because it results in fewer defects, but the TiC/TiB2 nanoparticles eliminate solidification cracking normally associated with high strength aluminum alloys during welding. Porosity is another problem faced when welding aluminum, which can be affected by many things including deposition parameters, atmosphere and even the welding equipment used. Effects of different deposition parameters have been comprehensively studied including the deposition geometry and metallurgical properties. The process is also monitored with current/voltage measurement and high-speed imaging to understand the droplet transfer mode and molten pool development. The results are used to optimize process parameters to achieve the fewest defects possible while comparing different metal transfer modes. Multi-scale characterizations will be performed to examine the porosity distribution, solidification mode and grain size through optical microscopy. Future works will explore the distribution of secondary phases, precipitates, and nanoparticles through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as conducting some mechanical testing of the as built structures such as hardness mapping and tensile tests.