Microstructure and mechanical properties of selective laser melted Ti6Al4V alloy

The present work was focused on the properties of porous Ti6Al4V specimens processed by selective laser melting (SLM) and tested in tension and compression before and after heat treatment. The SLM samples were annealed at 955 °C, water quenched and aged at 600 °C with following air cooling. The values of the mechanical tests showed that the samples exhibited high mechanical properties. The anisotropy of tensile and compressive strength was observed, which was related to the occurrence of voids. The plastic properties of specimens were improved by means of the heat treatment that led to the transformation of martensitic to lamellar structure composed of α + β phases. The microstructure of SLM samples were evaluated before and after the heat treatment. The brittle nature of failures of non-heat treated samples can be explained by synergy of martensite presence, microcracks and residual stresses produced by SLM.