ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OF TITANIUM ALLOYS: OPTIMIZING MECHANICAL PROPERTIES FOR AEROSPACE APPLICATIONS

Abstract

This study investigates the optimization of mechanical properties of titanium alloys for aerospace applications using advanced additive manufacturing (AM) techniques. Specifically, Selective Laser Melting (SLM), Electron Beam Melting (EBM), and Direct Energy Deposition (DED) were employed to fabricate Ti6Al4V titanium alloy samples, and their mechanical properties, including tensile strength, fatigue resistance, hardness, and microstructure, were evaluated. The results revealed that SLM-produced samples exhibited superior tensile strength (801 MPa), fatigue life (1,200,000 cycles), and hardness (400 HV) compared to those produced by EBM and DED. Additionally, microstructural analysis showed that SLM resulted in finer and more uniform grain structures, contributing to its enhanced mechanical performance. Applications of post-processing heat treatments on samples achieved important improvements to tensile strength and fatigue resistance particularly for SLM-produced titanium alloy components. The results prove SLM stands as the leading AM technology for manufacturing titanium components destined for aerospace applications because it enables production of superior material properties that heat treatment can then enhance. The study brings essential knowledge about AM parameter optimization and post-treatment enhancements which supports aerospace component development of high-performance titanium parts