Effect of heat treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of alsi10mg alloy fabricated by selective laser melting

The effects of the heat treatment process parameters on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a selective laser melted (SLMed) AlSi10Mg alloy were systematically investigated. The SLMed AlSi10Mg alloy was treated with T1 (180°C× 4h + air cooling) process, which had the microstructure of fine α-Al grains, fine Si phase, and nano-sized precipitations. The microhardness significantly increased to 150 HV, which is even higher than as-SLMed one (126 HV). The microhardness of SLMed AlSi10Mg alloy treated with T4 (540°C × 2h + water cooling) heat-treatment process significantly decreased to 62 HV due to the growth of α-Al grains, Si phase and the formation of β-AlFeSi phase. However, the microhardness and ultimate tensile strength of AlSi10Mg alloy treated with T6 (540°C × 2 h water cool + 180°C × 4 h air cool) process decreased to 91 HV, although the strengthening precipitation of Mg2Si phase formed. It indicates that the Mg2Si phase cannot compensate for the adverse effect of grain growth. It may provide the best potential heat treatment method for fabricating the high strength SLMed AlSi10Mg alloy.