Uncovering the roles of LaB 6-nanoparticle inoculant in the AlSi10Mg alloy fabricated via selective laser melting

The effects of inoculation treatment with LaB6 nanoparticles (0-2 wt% additions) on the microstructural evolution and mechanical performance in a selective laser melted AlSi10Mg alloy were comprehensively investigated. The addition of 0.2-0.5 wt% LaB6 nanoparticles was identified to be optimal to achieve substantial grain refinement, microstructural homogeneity and thus remediation in the mechanical property anisotropy in the AlSi10Mg alloy. The substantial grain refinement was attributed to the coherent Al/LaB6 interfaces, which facilitated the heterogeneous nucleation of Al on the LaB6 nanoparticles during solidification. Increasing the LaB6 addition up to 2 wt% only marginally further refined the equiaxed grains, which can be understood in terms of the concept of nucleation free zone formed in the liquid at front of the growing solid-liquid interfaces. The LaB6 nanoparticles within the nucleation free zone could not be activated to be nucleants for alpha-Al. As a result, random orientation relationships between LaB6 nanoparticles within the nucleation free zone and the Al matrix were determined. Those excessive LaB6 nanoparticles weakened the melt pool boundaries, and therefore deteriorated the longitudinal ductility of the SLMed AlSi10Mg alloy.