Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of Selective Laser Melted Al 4047

Selective laser melting (SLM) has been recognized as a pertinent process for manufacturing of complex geometries. Al 4047 has been manufactured in this study with different processing parameters of the SLM process to obtain the optimal parameters suitable for required applications, as well as to determine the effect of these parameters and post-processing heat treatment on mechanical properties. A unique Al-Si eutectic microstructure is obtained with Al dendrites growing in the scanning direction. Mechanical properties of the SLM manufactured Al 4047 are at par with those of conventionally manufactured alloy. These properties can be varied by changing the SLM process parameters which can help controlling the process cost depending upon required mechanical properties.