Faculty Publications
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://idr.nitk.ac.in/handle/123456789/18736
Publications by NITK Faculty
Browse
11 results
Search Results
Item Effect of Process Parameters on Track Geometry and Porosity in Laser Direct Energy Deposition of High Strength Aluminum Alloy(Springer, 2024) Balla, S.K.; Manjaiah, M.; Selvaraj, N.; Bontha, S.Laser Directed Energy Deposition (LDED) is a metal Additive Manufacturing (Metal AM) process that has attracted significant attention due to its ability to produce complex geometries with material properties comparable to cast and wrought parts. High-strength aluminum alloys especially 2xxx, 6xxx, and 7xxx series are difficult to fabricate using LDED process since these alloys are prone to hot cracking due to rapid solidification during the LDED process. The focus of this work is to evaluate the effect of LDED process parameters on track geometry and porosity of Al7075 powder. The effects of process parameters such as laser power, scan speed, and powder flow rate on track geometry and porosity, were investigated using a Formalloy LDED machine via L27 orthogonal array of experiments. Increasing the laser power resulted in an increase in bead width and wetting angle, whereas increasing the scan speed led to a decrease in bead height and wetting angle and a minor increase in width. The results also showed a linear increase in wetting angle and bead height with increased powder flow rate, while the width of the bead remained relatively constant. Furthermore, it was also observed that increasing the laser power to 750 W resulted in a decrease in the cross-sectional porosity of the bead due to the availability of sufficient energy density thereby facilitating proper melting. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2024.Item Elucidating Corrosion Behavior of Hastelloy-X Built Using Laser Directed Energy Deposition-Based Additive Manufacturing in Acidic Environments(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2021) Diljith, P.K.; Jinoop, A.N.; Paul, C.P.; Krishna, P.; Bontha, S.; Bindra, K.S.This paper reports an investigation on the electrochemical corrosion behavior of laser directed energy deposition (LDED)-based additive manufacturing built Hastelloy-X (Hast-X) bulk samples for the first time in various acidic environments (2M HNO3, 2M HCl, and 2M H2SO4). Open-circuit potential results reveal that corrosion activity is more in HCl than the other two media. The corrosion rate (CR) estimated using the Tafel extrapolation method shows that the corrosion rate (CR) is the most in HCl and least in HNO3. Potentiodynamic studies reveal active–passive behavior of Hast-X in all the media and it is seen that the material stays in passivation for a longer potential range in HCl. Further, pitting potential is observed to be comparable in all three media. The cyclic polarization curve shows no loops, which points out the absence of pitting in the samples immersed in any of the media. The estimated CR for Hast-X in all the acidic environments under investigation comes within the acceptable CR for nickel-based alloys (4 mpy). The morphology of the corroded surface is analyzed using stereo microscope and it confirms the absence of pitting in all the three samples. These observations confirm the suitability of LDED built Hast-X components for applications in investigated acidic environments. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.Item An Improved Finite Element Based Approach to Predict Single Track Geometry During Laser Directed Energy Deposition(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2025) Chaurasia, J.K.; Gurugubelli, R.C.; Jinoop, A.N.; Bontha, S.; Paul, C.P.; Bindra, K.S.This paper reports development of a two-dimensional transient finite element based numerical model to predict dimensions of deposited single track during laser directed energy deposition (LDED) of Inconel 625 (IN625) superalloys. The numerical model in the paper is based on two steps where first melt pool dimensions are determined using a transient thermal simulation. The second step accounts for the material addition, where the elements are activated based on the calculation of excess enthalpy. The numerical model is based on the fundamental principles of energy and mass balance. The numerical model also incorporates the fluid dynamics effects by multiplying the correction factor to the thermal conductivity of the material above melting temperature and also compares the track dimensions without considering the correction factor. A comparison of the track height and width obtained from the numerical model at Cf = 1 and 2.5 with experimental measurements was done. The maximum absolute percentage error in the numerical model considering the fluid dynamics effects (Cf = 2.5) is 5% in track height and 9% in track width. The percentage errors in the case of numerical model without fluid dynamics effects (Cf = 1) is 13% in track height and 16% in track width. The numerical model without considering the fluid dynamics effect is found to overpredict the track dimensions in all the cases. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025.Item Understanding the corrosion behaviour of laser directed energy deposition-based additive manufacturing built Inconel 718 under acidic environments(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2021) Diljith, P.K.; Jinoop, A.N.; Paul, C.P.; Krishna, P.; Bontha, S.; Bindra, K.S.This paper presents an investigation on the electrochemical corrosion behaviour of Laser Directed Energy Deposition (LDED)-based additive manufacturing built Inconel 718 (IN718) for the first time in various acidic environments (2 M HNO3, 2 M HCl and 2 M H2SO4). Open circuit potential reveals that corrosion is more active in HCl, and Tafel extrapolation shows that the corrosion rate (CR) is maximum in HCl and minimum in HNO3. Potentiodynamic polarization studies conducted on the samples reveal active–passive behaviour of IN718 and show that pitting potential is maximum in HCl. Cyclic polarization studies reveal localized pitting behaviour in HCl, with no signs of pitting corrosion in HNO3 and H2SO4, which is further confirmed using Scanning Electron Microscopy. The estimated CR for IN718 is lower than the acceptable CR for nickel-based alloys (4 mpy) in all acidic environments under investigation. The study paves the way for potential deployment of LDED built IN718 components under various corrosive environments. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.Item Hybrid additive manufacturing of ER70S6 steel and Inconel 625: A study on microstructure and mechanical properties(Elsevier Ltd, 2023) Rodrigues, J.P.; Thanumoorthy, R.S.; Manjhi, S.K.; Sekar, P.; Arumuga Perumal, D.A.; Bontha, S.; Balan, A.S.S.Hybrid Additive Manufacturing (HAM) is currently being explored because of its potential to achieve trade-off between build capacity and feature resolution. The present study aims at fabricating ER70S6-Inconel 625 (IN625) bimetallic clad using hybrid Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) and Laser Directed Energy Deposition (LDED) processes. Microstructure evaluation was performed at the cross section of bimetallic clad for distinct materials as well as the interface. WAAM built ER70S6 revealed equiaxed ferritic grains, whereas laser deposited IN625 region showed columnar dendrites with under developed secondary arms. However, the first layer of IN625 exhibited columnar dendrite with secondary arms due to the influence of diffused Fe from the base ER70S6 steel under the action of concentrated laser heat source, which was revealed by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) maps. The measured microhardness across the cross section of the deposit showed values corresponding to inherent material system. The interface did not reveal presence of any intermetallic phases which was confirmed by hardness results and X-Ray diffraction. Shear test revealed superior bond strength between the two materials, maintaining average strength of 452 MPa. The fractography images exhibited fine dimples along with cleavages indicating mixed fracture characteristics. This additive manufacturing method explores a new dimension in multi-material fabrication which, when customized for different materials, serve critical areas in the aerospace and defence sector. © 2023 Elsevier LtdItem Effect of deposition strategy and post processing on microstructure and mechanical properties of serviced Inconel 625 parts repaired using laser directed energy deposition(Elsevier Ltd, 2024) Chaurasia, J.K.; Jinoop, A.N.; Paul, C.P.; Bindra, K.S.; Balla, V.K.; Bontha, S.In the present work, an attempt is made to understand and explore the repair capabilities of the Laser Directed Energy Deposition (LDED) process on Nickel based superalloy Inconel 625 (IN625). Samples were extracted from a wrought plate of IN625 and then were subjected to a fatigue test to mimic a component in service for repairing. Further, deposition was carried out on these fatigued tensile sample surfaces i.e., Top, Top & bottom, One side and Both sides. The samples were also solution-treated at 1200 °C for 90 mins. Microstructure and mechanical properties were evaluated and then compared between the different deposition strategies and sample heat-treatment conditions. Tensile properties were compared for all the three sample conditions viz. wrought alloy, as repaired and solution treated. Results indicate sound deposition with minimal porosity in all the four deposition strategies using the LDED process with a mean deposit height of 1.02 ± 0.25 mm. Microstructural analysis revealed mixed dendrite and columnar structure in the case of as-deposited samples whereas, solution treated samples exhibited recrystallized equiaxed grains with the presence of annealing twins. The as-deposited samples show a ductile mode of failure with a maximum ultimate strength of 830 MPa, yield strength of 350 MPa and elongation of 72%. For solution treated samples, a maximum ultimate tensile strength of 620 MPa, yield strength of 270 MPa and elongation of 73% were observed. The strength of the material was found to be highly influenced by the solution treatment. © 2023 Elsevier LtdItem Enhanced tribological performance of laser directed energy deposited Inconel 625 achieved through laser surface remelting(Elsevier B.V., 2024) Praharaj, A.K.; Chaurasia, J.K.; Gurugubelli, R.C.; Bontha, S.; Suvin, P.S.Inconel 625 (IN625) is an essential material for the manufacture of turbine blades and seals, aircraft ducting systems, engine components, and pressure valves. Laser Directed Energy Deposition (LDED) process has shown the potential to fabricate IN625 parts with superior mechanical properties and higher corrosion resistance when compared to those fabricated using conventional manufacturing techniques. However, the poor surface quality limits the practical application of LDED fabricated parts, especially in sectors that demand high tribological performance. To this end, this study focuses on improving the surface quality and tribological performance of LDED fabricated IN625 components using Laser Surface Remelting (LSR) as a postprocessing operation. The tribological performance was evaluated using a linear reciprocating ball-on-flat wear test setup. The surface roughness, remelting depth (RD), microstructure, hardness, and tribological performance (coefficient of friction and wear rate) of the remelted (RM) samples were compared with that of as-deposited (AD) samples. Microstructural characterization revealed that LSR resulted in grain refinement, reduced dendrite size, and primary dendritic arm spacing (PDAS). Laser scanning speed effects RD, dendrite size and PDAS via its effect on cooling rates. SEM + EDS analysis confirmed the presence of Laves phase in both AD and RM samples. XRD analysis of RM samples showed an increase in the amount of Laves phase. The refinement in microstructural features and the increased amount of Laves phase among the RM samples led to improvement in microhardness when compared to AD samples. Wear test results revealed a reduction in the coefficient of friction (COF) and wear rate after LSR with wear mechanism being either abrasive or delamination. Reduction in the size of dendrites and refinement in grain size are attributed to the enhanced tribological performance after LSR. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.Item The influence of laser direct energy deposition processing parameters on Al7075 alloy and Zr-modified Al7075 alloy(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2024) Balla, S.K.; Mallaiah, M.; Nagamuthu, S.; Gurugubelli, R.C.; Aranas, C.; Bontha, S.The Laser Directed Energy Deposition (LDED) technique in metal additive manufacturing (MAM) offers intricate geometries while maintaining material properties akin to cast and wrought components. However, challenges persist in fabricating high-strength aluminum alloys like 2xxx, 6xxx, and 7xxx series due to hot cracking during rapid solidification in LDED. This study addresses Al7075 hot cracking issue by introducing 1 wt% Zr. To evaluate this novel approach, the influence of process parameters on track geometry, porosity, microstructure, hardness, and tensile properties of both Al7075 and modified Al7075 (with 1 wt% Zr) was examined using an L27 orthogonal array of experiments. Findings indicate that increased laser power widens bead width and wetting angle. Conversely, higher scan speeds reduce bead height but marginally increase width, impacting wetting angle. Notably, the addition of Zr decreased porosity from 0.07 to 0.032%, indicating enhanced material quality. Microstructural analysis reveals Zr’s role in preventing solidification cracking by enhancing molten metal fluidity during solidification, transitioning the microstructure from columnar to equiaxed fine grain due to Al3Zr precipitates, and promoting grain refinement. This addition of Zr also improved hardness and tensile strength by 11% and 10%, respectively, attributed to Al3Zr precipitates’ role in grain refinement and precipitation strengthening within Al7075. In summary, incorporating 1 wt% Zr into Al7075 via LDED demonstrates promising improvements in microstructure, reducing porosity, enhancing mechanical properties, and mitigating solidification cracking, thereby offering potential enhancements in the fabrication of high-strength aluminum alloys. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2024.Item Effect of Heat Treatment on Microstructure and Dry Sliding Wear Behavior of Laser Directed Energy Deposited Inconel 625(Springer, 2025) Praharaj, A.K.; Chaurasia, J.K.; Suvin, P.S.; Narayanan, J.A.; Paul, C.P.; Balla, V.K.; Chakrapani, S.K.; Bontha, S.Laser directed energy deposition (LDED) is a promising technology for manufacturing and repair of Inconel 625 (IN625) components used in critical sectors requiring enhanced tribological performance due to harsh operating environments. Hence, the current work focuses on the evaluation of the tribological performance of LDED-built IN625 with the implementation of different heat treatment methods, i.e., solution treatment (ST), direct aging (AG), and solution treatment + aging (ST + AG). A detailed microstructural analysis, hardness, and wear testing were performed for the as-deposited (AD) and heat-treated (HT) samples, and the results were compared. The analysis revealed coarser grains in the case of ST and ST + AG samples, whereas finer grains for AD and AG samples, indicating grain coarsening after solution treatment. Further, the brittle laves phase gets dissolved after ST, whereas the AG and ST + AG samples resulted in the precipitation of metal carbides and strengthening phases. The microhardness of the ST sample (193.2 HV) was lower compared to the AD (211.6 HV) sample, whereas the AG and ST + AG samples exhibited 25.6 and 9.3% higher hardness than the AD sample. Considering tribological performance, the AG sample illustrated a maximum reduction of 61.4% in the coefficient of friction (COF) and 36.5% in wear rate when compared to the AD sample. This could be attributed to the presence of finer grains and strengthening phases. © ASM International 2025.Item Investigation on high-temperature tribological performance of laser directed energy deposited Inconel 625 for aerospace applications(Elsevier Ltd, 2025) Praharaj, A.K.; Bontha, S.; Balla, V.K.; Chakrapani, S.K.; Suvin, P.S.Laser directed energy deposition (LDED) is an emerging technique for fabricating superalloy based aero engine components. Hence, the current work investigates the tribological performance of LDED processed IN625 at room temperature (RT) and high temperature (HT) conditions of 850 °C to replicate the operating environment of aero engine components. The comparison with conventionally processed (CP) sample confirmed that as-deposited (AD) sample showed similar friction behavior to the CP sample but slightly improved wear performance. The COF and wear rate of AD sample reduced significantly at HT compared to RT due to the evolution of stable oxide layer. NiO, Fe2O3, and Cr2O3 were the major phases in oxide layer. The work indicates suitability of LDED to fabricate wear resistant surfaces. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd