@article{28017,
  abstract     = {{Processing aluminum alloys employing powder bed fusion of metals (PBF-LB/M) is becoming more attractive for the industry, especially if lightweight applications are needed. Unfortunately, high-strength aluminum alloys such as AA7075 are prone to hot cracking during PBF-LB/M, as well as welding. Both a large solidification range promoted by the alloying elements zinc and copper and a high thermal gradient accompanied with the manufacturing process conditions lead to or favor hot cracking. In the present study, a simple method for modifying the powder surface with titanium carbide nanoparticles (NPs) as a nucleating agent is aimed. The effect on the microstructure with different amounts of the nucleating agent is shown. For the aluminum alloy 7075 with 2.5 ma% titanium carbide nanoparticles, manufactured via PBF-LB/M, crack-free samples with a refined microstructure having no discernible melt pool boundaries and columnar grains are observed. After using a two-step ageing heat treatment, ultimate tensile strengths up to 465 MPa and an 8.9% elongation at break are achieved. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that not all nanoparticles used remain in the melt pool during PBF-LB/M.}},
  author       = {{Heiland, Steffen and Milkereit, Benjamin and Hoyer, Kay-Peter and Zhuravlev, Evgeny and Keßler, Olaf and Schaper, Mirko}},
  journal      = {{Materials}},
  keywords     = {{grain refinement, crack reduction, laser beam melting, aluminum alloy, titanium carbide, nanoparticle, PBF-LB/M}},
  title        = {{{Requirements for Processing High-Strength AlZnMgCu Alloys with PBF-LB/M to Achieve Crack-Free and Dense Parts}}},
  doi          = {{https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14237190}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}