3D printed Ni-based superalloy structures for energy industry application

Additive manufacturing is currently one of the most emerging technologies. Such a method can be applied for both polymeric and metal materials. It results in widening of 3D printing application in many industrial branches, e.g. medicine, automotive, aerospace. The power industry is a branch with very high requirements related to additive manufacturing of elements. Therefore, a detailed analysis of proposed technology (particular method, parameters, heat treatment, etc.) is a topic of interest. The material types that are recently applied in additive manufacturing are Ni-based superalloys. The weldability and cracking susceptibility of such materials is still a vast and complex subject for elements made using additive manufacturing, due to manufacturing process characteristic. The paper presents analyses focused on the microstructure of 3D printed Ni-based superalloy structures. The analyses were performed using scanning electron microscope. The method allows to observe the microstructure to detect, localize and determination of the size of microstructure elements and discontinuities.