Laser powder bed fusion of GH3536 nickel-based superalloys: Processing parameters, microstructure and mechanical properties

In this study, a GH3536 nickel-based superalloys was fabricated by the laser powder bed fusion technology (LPBF) with emphasis on its microstructure evolution and mechanical properties. Nearly fully dense specimens with the relative density of about 98.8% were obtained by parameter optimization. GH3536 nickel-based su-peralloys swirlers based on the optimized processing parameters show a high surface finish and no obvious macro-defects are observed. An excellent strength-ductility balance of the alloy with a yield strength of 675 MPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 823 MPa and an elongation of 22.3% was attained. The TEM results show the significant micro segregation of Mo and Cr at columnar sub-grain boundaries and promoted the formation of the chain-like carbides, improving the room temperature strength. The grains of the specimens show obvious bimodal grain structure and the crystals have a preferred crystallographic orientation along (001) direction and the texture orientations were fiber (100) and {001} (310). These findings provide some guidance for the in-dustrial application of LPBF manufacturing high-quality GH3536 nickel-based superalloys components.