Scientists at Novosibirsk State Technical University NETI have developed a method that makes it possible to control the properties of metal parts directly during their layer-by-layer creation. The technology makes it possible to change the chemical composition of the material and its characteristics — from strength to corrosion resistance — right during the formation of the product.
The technology is being developed within the framework of additive manufacturing — in particular, the wire arc method (WAAM). One of the key elements is dual wire feeding, which makes it possible to create complex multicomponent structures.
Such materials are called functionally graded. In them, the composition and properties change within a single part. Thanks to this, several characteristics can be combined at once — strength, wear resistance, and resistance to aggressive environments. This is especially important for mechanical engineering, energy, and medicine, for example in the creation of prostheses.
For the trial deposition, wire made of ER308LSi stainless austenitic steel and ER70S-6 steel was selected. At the same time, the wire was fed manually. As a result, a bead uniform in appearance was obtained, consisting of layers of different steels with a transition layer between them.
The technology will also make it possible to predict the composition of the material directly during the creation process. This will make it possible to see potential defects in advance and eliminate them. In the future, the method will make it possible to use two, three, or even four wires at once during deposition — and create even more complex materials.
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