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On Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a Low-Carbon Low-Alloy Steel Block Fabricated by Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing

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Abstract

In this study, wire arc additive manufacturing process is employed to fabricate a low-carbon low-alloy steel block, using an ER70S-6 solid wire. Three sets of samples with different orientations, including perpendicular (Vertical), parallel (Horizontal), and 45° (45-degree) relative to the deposition plane, were prepared in order to investigate the anisotropy in mechanical properties and microstructure of the fabricated part. Both Horizontal and 45-degree samples showed a uniform microstructure containing mostly ferritic grains with a small volume fraction of pearlite at their grain boundaries. Differently, a periodic microstructure was detected in the Vertical sample, consisting of a combination of acicular ferrite, bainite, and allotriomorphic ferrite formed in the interlayer regions in addition to polygonal ferrite within the melt pools’ center. Moreover, the uniaxial tensile and Charpy impact results exhibited isotropic tensile, yield, elongation, and impact properties for both Horizontal and 45-degree samples; however, the Vertical sample showed a lower mechanical performance. The improved mechanical properties of the Horizontal and 45-degree samples were correlated to their uniform ferritic microstructure.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the support of Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Canada Research Chair (CRC) program, Memorial University of Newfoundland, and Dalhousie University for sponsoring this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, A1B 3X5, Canada

    Mehran Rafieazad & Ali Nasiri

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dalhousie University, 1360 Barrington St, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2, Canada

    Alireza Vahedi Nemani, Mahya Ghaffari & Ali Nasiri

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  1. Mehran Rafieazad
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Correspondence to Mehran Rafieazad.

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This invited article is part of a special topical focus in the Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance on Additive Manufacturing. The issue was organized by Dr. William Frazier, Pilgrim Consulting, LLC; Mr. Rick Russell, NASA; Dr. Yan Lu, NIST; Dr. Brandon D. Ribic, America Makes; and Caroline Vail, NSWC Carderock.

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Rafieazad, M., Nemani, A.V., Ghaffari, M. et al. On Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a Low-Carbon Low-Alloy Steel Block Fabricated by Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 30, 4937–4945 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-021-05568-9

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