Microstructure and electrochemical anodic behavior of Inconel 718 fabricated by high-power laser solid forming

Improvements to the surface of high-power laser solid formed Inconel 718 by use of electrochemical methods were systematically investigated. Formation features (surface microstructure characteristics and surface morphology) and the corresponding electrochemical anodic behavior (electrochemical dissolution behavior and surface levelling mechanism) were analysed. The electrochemical results show that the surface energy difference between the horizontal section and vertical section causes no difference to their transpassive current densities in 10 wt.% NaNO₃ solution up to 2.5 V, owing to the existence of a passive film. Analysis of micro-morphologies indicates that the high current density leads to a smooth micro-morphology due to the higher detachment rates of the interdendritic phases and surface products. Numerical simulations suggest that surface peaks dissolve faster than depressions during the electrochemical levelling process owing to the higher local current density on the surface peaks. Importantly, a detailed microstructure selection map for as-deposited Inconel 718 and an anodic current-density-potential map were developed, and the electrochemical levelling mechanism of its wavy surfaces was proposed. This work has the potential to integrate understanding of laser solid forming-process conditions, formation features, and electrochemical anodic behavior.