Abstract:
LPBF is widely used in the manufacture of nickel-based superalloy parts in aerospace industry. The microstructure which determines mechanical properties of parts is dependent on LPBF process parameters. In this work, the tailored ability of the microstructure and microhardness for LPBF built IN738LC was studied by altering heat input. The results show that the IN738LC alloy has a good printability and no crack or hole defects in the VED range of 40 J/mm
3 to 97 J/mm
3. The grain size increased with the heat input from a 100-micron scale of 44 J/mm
3 to a millimeter scale of 94 J/mm
3. The microhardness of
xz plane was slightly higher than that of
xy plane. Moreover, microhardness was increased from 340 HV1.0 to 440 HV1.0 and from 330 HV1.0 to 420 HV1.0 for
xz plane and
xy plane with increase of VED from 38 J/mm
3 to 91 J/mm
3.