Additive manufacturing of aluminium matrix composites

In a joint project between the Fraunhofer Institute for Additive Production Technologies IAPT, the Department of Materials Testing Technology at the TU Dortmund University (WPT) and the Chair of Composite Materials and Material Compounds at the Chemnitz University of Technology, the fatigue behavior of generatively manufactured aluminium matrix composites is being investigated. The starting point are composite powders made of AlSi10Mg with various reinforcing components such as SiC, TiO2 and Al2O3, which are produced at Chemnitz University of Technology using a high-energy ball milling process. In the following process by using the powder bed laser melting method bulk composite are generated in the group of Professor Claus Emmelmann at the Fraunhofer IAPT Professor Wagner from Chemnitz University of Technology explains one central challenges in the project. "Although the composite powders possesses a very homogeneous distribution of the reinforcing components, the shape of the generated powder particles is not optimal for the generative manufacturing process. We have to optimize this" Moreover, the team around Professor Frank Walther from the TU Dortmund University is responsible for the characterization of the fatigue behaviour of the aluminium matrix composites. By using high-resolution measurements and analyzing methods, the team will clarify the influence of the milling process parameters and the laser power applied on the microstructure and thus the property profile of the composites.

First results of the work on the comparison between mixed and milled powders will be presented at the conference Materials and Additive Manufacturing at 13 of May in Potsdam

The project entitled: "Mechanism-based investigation of additive-manufactured aluminium matrix composites for increased mechanical strength" is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) over three years.

Further information can be obtained from Maik Trautmann, Prof. Dr. Guntram Wagner and on the homepage of the DFG.