The study shows that controlling the mixing gradient of the component materials in functionally graded materials can improve mechanical properties

Functionally graded materials (FGMs) are high-performance materials with expected applications in aerospace, automobiles, defense, and medicine. These materials are usually employed in conditions of extreme temperature and pressure, therefore making it important for them to be as defect-free as possible. Now, researchers from Korea Maritime and Ocean University have found a way to minimize defects in FGMs by manipulating the gradient of the elemental composition.

Controlling gradient ratio in functionally graded materials (FGMs) can minimize defects

According to the study, manipulating the gradient ratio of the component materials during directed energy deposition (a 3D printing technique) can lead to high-performance functional materials with minimal defects

Materials used in the fields of aerospace, automobiles, medical equipment, defense need to withstand extremely harsh environments. Small flaws in the materials, i.e. cracks, can lead to catastrophic consequences and massive economic loss. However, most materials cannot handle such high temperatures and pressures. Multimaterials, like functionally graded materials (FGMs), which combine different materials to produce improved performance, are ideal in this situation.

Multimaterials are normally made by additive manufacturing (AM), where layers of different materials are deposited one over the other. However, cracks and pores are common at the boundary layers due to the different properties of the materials. FGMs seek to reduce these cracks by creating a ‘gradient’ to the composition change across the volume of the material. Now, researchers from Korea Maritime and Ocean University have developed a way to synthesize a high-performance FGM made of Inconel 718 and stainless steel (STS) 316L and minimize its defects. According to Professor Do-Sik Shim, who led the study, “Inconel 718 has excellent properties, but it is expensive. By mixing it with STS 316L to create a high-performance FGM, we have not only improved its technical and commercial advantages, but its economic feasibility as well.” Their findings are published in Journal of Materials Research and Technology.

For their work, the research team deposited STS 316L onto Inconel 718 using a 3D-printing technique called ‘directed energy deposition.’ They created three types of FGMs, non-graded (NG), which involved a layer of STS deposited directly on Inconel, graded (10), and graded (25), which had mixing gradients of 10% and 25% respectively. They found that interfacial cracks were common in the NG type, whereas Graded (10) and Graded (25) had cracks only in specific regions due to ‘columnar-to-equitaxial transition’ (a transition in the microstructure of the FGM), precipitation, or the inclusion of titanium, aluminium or chromium impurities. They moreover saw that the Graded (25) type showed the highest tensile strength and elongation.

These findings indicate that the microstructure and mechanical properties of FGM are highly dependent upon the gradient ratio of the components, thereby creating the potential to achieve minimal or even no defects in FGMs. “These findings will lead to improvements in the field, such as reduced costs, extended component lifespans in equipment, and enhanced functionality,” says Professor Shim. The research team’s future plans include using the new FGM to manufacture complex shaped parts using AM technologies.

Reference

*Corresponding author’s email: ^**leehyub@kitech.re.kr  (H. Lee), *think@kmou.ac.kr  (D.S. Shim)

About National Korea Maritime & Ocean University 

South Korea’s most prestigious university for maritime studies, transportation science and engineering, the National Korea Maritime & Ocean University is located on an island in Busan. The university was established in 1945 and since then has merged with other universities to currently being the only post-secondary institution that specializes in maritime sciences and engineering. It has four colleges that offer both undergraduate and graduate courses.  

Website: http://www.kmou.ac.kr/english/main.do

About the author

Dr. Do-Sik Shim received a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from KAIST, Korea, in 2010. He has been an associate professor at the Korea Maritime and Ocean University since 2017. His research interests include additive manufacturing (AM), sheet metal forming, finite element simulations, as well as optimal design. Over the last few years, his group has been actively researching metal AM techniques, such as directed energy deposition and powder bed fusion, in terms of process design, mechanical and metallurgical characteristics, and industrial applications.