Open AccessMechanical and electrical properties of selective laser‐melted parts produced from surface‐oxidized copper powder
Author(s) -
Jadhav Suraj Dinkar,
Vleugels Jozef,
Kruth JeanPierre,
Van Humbeeck Jan,
Vanmeensel Kim
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
material design & processing communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2577-6576
DOI - 10.1002/mdp2.94
Subject(s) - copper , materials science , ductility (earth science) , electrical resistivity and conductivity , porosity , ultimate tensile strength , thermal conductivity , composite material , absorption (acoustics) , argon , selective laser melting , laser , metallurgy , conductivity , microstructure , optics , chemistry , creep , physics , organic chemistry , electrical engineering , engineering
Abstract Selective laser melting of pure copper is challenging because of its high optical reflectivity and thermal conductivity. Accordingly, the surface of pure copper powder was modified by oxidation to enhance the optical absorption. The powder with improved optical absorption facilitated the production of crack‐free and dense copper parts at relatively lower laser energy density in both argon and nitrogen atmosphere. The microstructural analysis demonstrated the presence of stable melt tracks without obvious porosity. A very high electrical conductivity of approximately 89% of the international annealed copper standard, the hardness of approximately 93 HV, a tensile strength of approximately 270 MPa, and ductility of approximately 28% were achieved in the as‐built condition.