Mechanical Property Comparison of Ni–Cr–Mo Alloys Fabricated via One Conventional and Two New Digital Manufacturing Techniques

This study compared the microstructures and mechanical properties of nickel–chromium–molybdenum (Ni–Cr–Mo) alloys prepared from a single alloy with an identical composition using two new digital processes (selective laser melting (SLM) and soft metal milling (SMM)) and conventional lost-wax casting (LWC). Disc specimens were used to study the microstructures via various analytical methods, while dumbbell-shaped specimens were subjected to tension to determine the mechanical properties (n = 6). The SLM and SMM alloys showed a higher number of large and small pores, respectively, than the LWC alloy. A face-centered cubic (γ)-phased matrix was indexed for all three resultant alloys. The SLM and SMM alloys also showed more homogeneously distributed elements and finer grains (in particular, ultrafine grains in the SLM alloy) when compared to the LWC alloy. Meanwhile, the LWC alloy showed a statistically higher yield strength than the other two alloys (p 500 MPa; percentage elongation: >2%; and elastic modulus: >150 GPa).