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In joining Fe-alloys and Cu-containing alloys to access the high strength of steels and corrosion resistance of Cu-alloy, cracking is widely observed due to the significant Cu microsegregation during the solidification process, resulting in an interdendritic Cu-rich liquid film at the end of solidification. By fabricating functionally graded materials (FGMs) that incorporate additional elements like Ni in the transition region between these terminal alloy classes, the hot cracking can be reduced. In the present work, the joining of stainless steel 316L (SS316L) and Monel400 by modifying the Ni concentration in the gradient region was studied. A new hot cracking criterion based on hybrid Scheil-equilibrium approach was developed and validated with monolithic multi-layer samples within the SS316L-Ni-Monel400 three-alloy system and a SS316L to 55/45 wt% SS316L/Ni to Monel400 FGM sample fabricated by direct energy deposition (DED). The new hot cracking criterion, based on the hybrid Scheil-equilibrium approach, is expected to help design FGM paths between other Fe-alloys and Cu-containing alloys as well.
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This content will become publicly available on March 1, 2026
Effect of dilution on fabricated functionally graded materials compositions: Modelling and mitigation strategies validated using the Ni-, Fe-, Cu- alloy system
Additive manufacturing (AM) can be used to fabricate functionally graded materials (FGMs) in which composition, and therefore properties, vary spatially within a component. A practical consideration for FGM fabrication is the effects of dilution. In the gradient region of vertically graded FGMs, dilution from the previous layer with a different composition from that being newly deposited can result in the composition of the newly solidified layer deviating from the feedstock composition from the nozzles. In this study, a dilution model for multi-layer FGM samples is proposed and validated experimentally with an Inconel625 (IN625)-Monel400 FGM sample. Factors that affect the deviation from the designed compositional path are discussed and methods for mitigating dilution effects to produce designed path are provided and experimentally demonstrated in a stainless steel 316 L (SS316L)-50/50 wt% SS316L/Ni-Monel400 FGM sample, aiding in precise production of the designed FGM path.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2050069
- PAR ID:
- 10583097
- Publisher / Repository:
- Additive Manufacturing
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Additive Manufacturing
- Volume:
- 102
- Issue:
- C
- ISSN:
- 2214-8604
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 104730
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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