Grain boundary network evolution in electron-beam powder bed fusion nickel-based superalloy Inconel 738

Additive manufacturing (AM) of alloys has attracted much attention in recent years for making geometrically complex engineering parts owing to its unique benefits, such as high flexibility and low waste. The in-service performance of AM parts is dependent on the microstructures and grain boundary networks formed during AM, which are often significantly different from their wrought counterparts. Characteristics such as grain size and morphology, texture, and the detailed grain boundary network are known to control various mechanical and corrosion properties. Advanced understanding on how AM parameters affect the formation of these microstructural characteristics is hence critical for optimising processing parameters to unlock superior properties. In this study, the difficult-to-weld nickel-based superalloy Inconel 738 was fabricated via electron-beam powder bed fusion (EPBF) following linear and random scanning strategies. Random scanning resulted in finer, less elongated, and crystallographically more random grains compared to the linear strategy. However, both scanning strategies achieve unique high grain structure stability up to 1250 ℃ due to the presence of carbides pinning the grain boundaries. Despite significant difference in texture and morphology, majority of grains terminated on {100} habit planes in both linear and random built samples. The results show potential for controlling grain boundary networks during EPBF by tuning scan strategies

Nano-twining and deformation-induced martensitic transformation in a duplex stainless steel 2205 fabricated by laser powder bed fusion

Duplex stainless steels (DSSs) possess desirable combinations of mechanical properties and excellent corrosion resistance due to their composition and equilibrium microstructure of roughly equivalent fractions of ferrite and austenite. They are used in harsh environments such as marine infrastructures, oil & gas, and paper & pulp industries. Components with complex geometries are often required for these applications. Additive manufacturing (AM) techniques such as laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) can be harnessed to fabricate components with greatest complexity. However, AM fabrication is well-known to promote non-equilibrium microstructures with high dislocation densities and Cr2N precipitates, resulting in inferior ductility. This is generally regarded as a challenge, however, short heat treatments of such as-built microstructures have been shown to attain refined duplex equilibrium microstructures. Recently, annealed LPBF DSS 2205 has been reported to possess strength higher than wrought counterparts and ductility properties better than the as-built state. However, the microstructural phenomena and deformation mechanisms behind these attractive properties remain poorly understood. Through multi-scale microstructural characterization, we show that the improved strength results not only from the hard ferrite phase, but also fine austenite grain size and nanoscale oxide dispersion strengthening. The enhanced ductility may be attributed to a combination of deformation mechanisms including dislocation slip, stacking fault formation, deformation twinning, and a deformation-induced martensitic transformation. We discuss how the level of microstructural complexity and solid-state phase transformations during LPBF and annealing can unlock multiple strengthening mechanisms during tensile deformation. Such fundamental understanding is crucial for designing AM parts with reproducible and optimised mechanical properties

Local composition and nanoindentation response of δ-phase and adjacent γ′′-free zone in a Ni-based superalloy

Experimental differentiation of individual strengthening effects from the nanoscale precipitates in Alloy 718 remains challenging due to co-precipitation of γ′ and γ′′. Here, we examine a region adjacent to the δ-phase consisting of γ-matrix containing γ′-precipitates only. The width and compositional profile of this γ′′-free zone is uncovered via high-resolution characterization. Nanomechanical analyses reveal that the lack of γ′′-precipitates lower the hardness of the γ′′-free zone by 10–20%, while the δ-phase is found to be ∼80% harder than the γ-matrix. These findings may guide mechanical modelling and microstructural engineering of stronger superalloys critical to aerospace industry

Ashbya Genome Database 3.0: a cross-species genome and transcriptome browser for yeast biologists

BACKGROUND: The Ashbya Genome Database (AGD) 3.0 is an innovative cross-species genome and transcriptome browser based on release 40 of the Ensembl developer environment. DESCRIPTION: AGD 3.0 provides information on 4726 protein-encoding loci and 293 non-coding RNA genes present in the genome of the filamentous fungus Ashbya gossypii. A synteny viewer depicts the chromosomal location and orientation of orthologous genes in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genome-wide expression profiling data obtained with high-density oligonucleotide microarrays (GeneChips) are available for nearly all currently annotated protein-coding loci in A. gossypii and S. cerevisiae. CONCLUSION: AGD 3.0 hence provides yeast- and genome biologists with comprehensive report pages including reliable DNA annotation, Gene Ontology terms associated with S. cerevisiae orthologues and RNA expression data as well as numerous links to external sources of information. The database is accessible at

Effect of compositional variations on the heat treatment response in 17-4 PH stainless steel fabricated by laser powder bed fusion

17–4 precipitate hardening (PH) stainless steel is used in various applications including in the aerospace, marine, and chemical industries, largely due to its unique combination of corrosion resistance and high strength, which is achieved by the formation of nanoscale Cu-rich precipitates during aging. 17–4 PH has been widely researched for its applicability for laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). However, there are discrepancies in the literature on its heat treatment response, which seem to be linked to compositional variations. Systematic studies of the interplay between these variations and nanoscale precipitation are currently missing. Using atom probe tomography, we present a systematic study of the heat treatment responses of two variants of LPBF 17–4 PH builds fabricated from different powder feedstocks, with significant differences in N contents (High vs Low N 17–4). Both variants formed predominantly δ-ferritic as-built microstructures. The as-built High N 17–4 variant showed a higher volume fraction of austenite which further increased upon solution annealing and quenching. The consequence was no appreciable hardening effect due to the absence of Cu precipitation in either austenite or martensite after aging, degrading the alloy's desirable property profile. Conversely, Low N 17–4 showed no austenite in the as-built condition and a fully martensitic matrix after solution annealing. This variant had the desired aging response; a ∼ 140 HV 5 increase in hardness due to nanoscale Cu precipitation. Our findings describe the deleterious effects of compositional variations incurred during the LPBF process flow and how they can be overcome in 17–4 PH and similar steels

On the detailed morphological and chemical evolution of phases during laser powder bed fusion and common post-processing heat treatments of IN718

IN718 is the most common Ni-based superalloy for manufacturing aircraft engine parts via thermo-mechanical treatments. The evolution of nanoscale strengthening phases is well researched, enabling optimization of strength, fatigue, and creep properties. Recently, IN718 has shown great viability for laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing of aerospace parts. However, the detailed microstructure-property relationships during thermal profiles typical to LPBF are not yet well understood. Previous works reported interdendritic precipitation of Laves phase. These detrimental particles can be dissolved by heat treatments, however, the detailed nanoscale phase evolution remains unknown. Using atom probe microscopy, we report on the detailed morphological and chemical evolution of phases in IN718 after LPBF with chessboard versus meander scanning strategies, and direct ageing versus homogenization and ageing treatments. Due to differences in scanning vector length, up to 3.6 times larger dendritic structures, double volume fractions of Laves particles, and Al clusters are found in the chessboard strategy. Coarser matrix grains and a higher dislocation density are detected in the meander strategy. The precise chemical composition and morphology evolution of the matrix, Laves, MC, γ′, and γ′′ phases are obtained and correlated to hardness. Retained Laves phase after direct ageing causes precipitation of 4% volume fraction of γ′′, with additional coarsened precipitates formed along dislocations. Direct ageing leads to an increase in hardness corresponding to roughly 190 HV. Due to Laves phase dissolution, a volume fraction of 16% of compositionally stable, larger γ′′ precipitates is found after homogenization and ageing, also causing partial matrix recrystallization