5 Werkstofftechnik
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- Ontology (11)
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- 5 Werkstofftechnik (164)
- 5.2 Metallische Hochtemperaturwerkstoffe (47)
- 5.1 Mikrostruktur Design und Degradation (44)
- 5.4 Multimateriale Fertigungsprozesse (33)
- 5.5 Materialmodellierung (17)
- 5.6 Glas (17)
- 6 Materialchemie (14)
- 8 Zerstörungsfreie Prüfung (14)
- 9 Komponentensicherheit (13)
- 5.3 Polymere Verbundwerkstoffe (12)
Paper des Monats
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The presentation gives an overview of two slurry-based additive manufacturing (AM) technologies specifically developed for advanced ceramic materials.
The “Layerwise Slurry Deposition” (LSD-print) is a modification of Binder Jetting making use of a ceramic slurry instead of a dry powder as a feedstock. In this process, a slurry is deposited layer-by-layer by means of a doctor blade and dried to achieve a highly packed powder layer, which is then printed by jetting a binder. The LSD-print technology combines the high-speed printing of binder jetting with the possibility of producing a variety of high-quality ceramics with properties comparable to those achieved by traditional processing.
The Laser Induced Slip casting (LIS) technology follows a novel working principle by locally drying and selectively consolidating layer-by-layer a ceramic green body in a vat of slurry, using a laser as energy source. LIS combines elements of Vat Photopolymerization with the use of water-based feedstocks containing a minimal amount of organic additives. The resulting technology can be directly integrated into a traditional ceramic process chain by manufacturing green bodies that are sintered without the need of a dedicated debinding.
Both technologies offer high flexibility in the ceramic feedstock used, especially concerning material and particle size. Advantages and disadvantages are briefly described to outline the specific features of LSD-print and LIS depending on the targeted application.
The multi-phase approach has proven to widen the application properties of high entropy alloys. After a decade of testing different alloys in the Al-Co-Cr-Cu-Fe-Ni-Ti family the Al10Co25Cr8Fe15Ni36Ti6 was found to be a solid base for more fine-tuned microstructural optimization. Following the example of superalloys, the Al10Co25Cr8Fe15Ni36Ti6 alloy aims for a γ/γ' microstructures in order to guarantee a good microstructural stability at high temperatures. The shape and volume fraction of the γ' particles is known to influence the mechanical properties of superalloys, and they do so in the high entropy family as well [1]. Shape, misfit and creep properties of several modified versions of the Al10Co25Cr8Fe15Ni36Ti6 alloy are compared and discussed in this talk.
The search for strong and tough oxide glasses is important for making safer, more environmentally friendly, thinner glass products. However, this task remains generally difficult due to the material’s inherent brittleness. In search for tougher glasses, fracture toughness (KIC) prediction models are helpful tools to screen for promising candidates.
In this work, a novel model to predict KIC via the fracture surface energy, γ, is presented. Our approach uses readily available crystallographic structure data of the glass’s isochemical crystal and tabled diatomic chemical bond energies, D0. The method assumes that γ of a glass equals the fracture surface energy of the most likely cleavage plane of the crystal. Calculated values were not only in excellent agreement with those calculated with a former well-working model, but also demonstrates a remarkable equivalence between crystal cleavage planes and glass fracture surfaces.
Finally, the effectiveness of fracture toughness enhancement by chemical substitution is discussed based on our results and alternative toughening strategies will be suggested.
The system Na2O.B2O3-SiO2 (NBS) is the basis of many industrial glass applications and therefore one of the most studied systems at all. Glass formation is possible over a wide compositional range, but the system also contains ranges of pronounced phase separation and crystallization tendency. Despite its importance, experimental data are limited to few compositional areas. The general understanding and modelling of glass formation, phase separation, and crystallization in this system would therefore be easier if small step melt series could be studied. The efficient melting of such glass series is now possible with the new robotic glass melting system at the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM, Division Glasses). Using three exemplary joins within this NBS system, the small step changes of glass transition temperature (Tg), crystallization behavior as well as glass density (Roh) was studied. Additionally, experimental Tg and Roh data were compared with their modeled counterparts using SciGlass and a newly developed DFT model, respectively.
Recently, efforts towards the development of patient-specific 3D printed scaffolds for bone tissue engineering from bioactive ceramics have continuously intensified. For reconstruction of segmental defects after subtotal mandibulectomy a suitable tissue engineered bioceramic bone graft needs to be endowed with homogenously distributed osteoblasts in order to mimic the advantageous features of vascularized autologous fibula grafts, which represent the standard of care, contain osteogenic cells and are transplanted with the respective blood vessel. Consequently, inducing vascularization early on is pivotal for bone tissue engineering. The current study explored an advanced bone tissue engineering approach combining an advanced 3D printing technique for bioactive resorbable ceramic scaffolds with a perfusion cell culture technique for pre-colonization with mesenchymal stem cells, and with an intrinsic angiogenesis technique for regenerating critical size, segmental discontinuity defects in vivo applying a rat model. To this end, the effect of differing Si-CAOP (silica containing calcium alkali orthophosphate) scaffold microarchitecture arising from 3D powder bed printing (RP) or the Schwarzwalder Somers (SSM) replica fabrication technique on vascularization and bone regeneration was analyzed in vivo. In 80 rats 6-mm segmental discontinuity defects were created in the left femur.
Additive Manufacturing for dental restorations by layerwise slurry deposition (LSD-print) technology
(2023)
The growing market of custom-made dental restorations offers a major potential for an application of ceramic additive manufacturing (AM).
The possibility to individualize patient specific design and to establish new efficient workflows, from model generation to manufacturing, can be fully exploited by AM technologies. However, for mass customization to be truly envisioned, ceramic AM needs to achieve a level of maturity, aesthetic quality, and productivity comparable to established manufacturing processes.
In this presentation, the potential of the “layerwise slurry deposition” LSD-print technology for dental applications will be explored. It has been shown in the past years that the LSD-print can be applied to advanced ceramic materials such as alumina and silicon-infiltrated silicon carbide. For these materials, the LSD-print technology combines the high-speed printing of binder jetting with the possibility of producing a variety of high-quality ceramics.
The current development deals with the challenges of applying this technology to a feldspar dental material, comparing the quality of AM restorations with the equivalent material for an established CAD/CAM workflow.
Preliminary results not only indicate that the AM material produced by LSD-print can be competitive in terms of mechanical properties, but also that aesthetically satisfactory restorations can be manufactured for veneers, inlays and onlays as well as single unit fixed dental prostheses (FDPs).
The presentation focuses on the material and technological challenges alongside the process chain, from the printing process, to debinding, firing and finishing the restorations.
Many metallic materials gain better mechanical properties through controlled heat treatments. For example, in age-hardenable aluminium alloys, the strengthening mechanism is based on the controlled formation of nanometre-sized precipitates, which represent obstacles to dislocation movement and consequently increase the strength. Precise tuning of the material microstructure is thus crucial for optimal mechanical behaviour under service condition of a component. Therefore, analysis of the microstructure, especially the precipitates, is essential to determine the optimum parameters for the interplay of material and heat treatment. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is utilized to identify precipitate types and orientations in the first step. Dark-field imaging (DF-TEM) is often used to image the precipitates and thereafter quantify their relevant dimensions. Often, these evaluations are still performed by manual image analysis, which is very time-consuming and to some extent also poses reproducibility problems.
Our work aims at a semantic representation of an automatable digital approach for this material specific characterization method under adaption of FAIR data practices. Based on DF-TEM images of different precipitation states of a wrought aluminium alloy, the modularizable, digital workflow of quantitative analysis of precipitate dimensions is described. The integration of this workflow into a data pipeline concept will also be discussed. Using ontologies, the raw image data, their respective contextual information, and the resulting output data of the quantitative image analysis can be linked in a triplestore. Publishing the digital workflow and the ontologies will ensure data reproducibility. In addition, the semantic structure enables data sharing and reuse for other applications and purposes, demonstrating interoperability.
Die hohen Betriebstemperaturen während des Einsatzes von Radialverdichterrädern in Abgasturboladern führen zu einer Änderung der ursprünglich eingestellten Mikrostruktur in der warmfesten Aluminiumlegierung EN AW-2618A (Überalterung). Grund dafür sind thermische Belastungen, die nahe der Aushärtetemperatur liegen und diese kurzzeitig sogar überschreiten können. Die Alterungsmechanismen wurden zusammen mit den Themen niederzyklische (LCF) und thermomechanische Ermüdung (TMF) sowie Kriechen bis max. 190 °C in vorangegangenen Forschungsvorhaben untersucht. Kaum untersucht war bisher das Verhalten der Legierung unter hochzyklischer Beanspruchung (HCF) sowie der Einfluss von Kerben und Lastkollektiven. Da zukünftig mit weiter steigenden Betriebstemperaturen für Radialverdichter zu rechnen ist, wurde in diesem Forschungsvorhaben das HCF-Verhalten bei 230 °C untersucht und somit bei einer Prüftemperatur, die deutlich oberhalb der Aushärtetemperatur liegt. Das Ziel des Projektes war der Aufbau einer geeigneten experimentellen Datenbasis, das Verständnis der relevanten mikrostrukturellen Prozesse sowie die Weiterentwicklung und Anpassung geeigneter Modelle und Bewertungsmethoden.
Das experimentelle Untersuchungsprogramm umfasste neben einer Basischarakterisierung des HCF-Verhaltens am Ausgangszustand T61 gezielte mechanische Versuche zur Isolierung der Einflussfakto-ren Mittelspannung (𝑅 = −1, 𝑅 = 0,1), Werkstoffüberalterung (T61, 10 h/230 °C, 1000 h/230 °C), Prüftemperatur (20 °C, 230 °C), Prüffrequenz (0,2 Hz, 20 Hz) sowie Kerbwirkung und variable Amplituden. Darauf aufbauend wurden die in den vorangegangenen Projekten entwickelten Modelle und Bewertungsmethoden angepasst und weiterentwickelt, um die genannten thermischen und mechanischen Belastungen in der Lebensdauerbewertung abzubilden.
The high operating temperatures of radial compressor wheels in exhaust gas turbochargers lead to abchange in the original microstructure of the heat-resistant aluminum alloy EN AW-2618A (overaging). This is caused by thermal loads that are close to the age hardening temperature and can even exceed it for a short time. The aging mechanisms have been investigated together with low cycle fatigue (LCF), thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) and creep up to max. 190 °C in previous research projects. The behavior of the alloy under high cycle fatigue (HCF) and the influence of load spectra have hardly been investigated. Since the operating temperatures of centrifugal compressors are expected to increase in the future, this research project investigated the HCF behavior at 230 °C, a test temperature significantly higher than the age hardening temperature. The objectives of the project were to establish a suitable experimental database, to understand the relevant microstructural processes, and to further develop and adapt suitable models and evaluation methods. In addition to a basic characterization of the HCF behavior in the initial condition T61, the experimental investigation program included targeted mechanical tests to isolate the influencing factors of mean stress (𝑅 = −1, 𝑅 = 0.1), material overaging (T61, 10 h/230 °C, 1000 h/230 °C), test temperature (20 °C, 230 °C), test frequency (0.2 Hz, 20 Hz) as well as variable amplitudes. On this basis, the models and evaluation methods developed in the previous projects were adapted and further developed to reflect thermal and mechanical loads in the lifetime assessment.
The high operating temperatures of radial compressor wheels in exhaust gas turbochargers lead to a change in the original microstructure of the heat-resistant aluminum alloy EN AW-2618A (overaging). This is caused by thermal loads that are close to the age hardening temperature and can even exceed it for a short time. The aging mechanisms have been investigated together with low cycle fatigue (LCF), thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) and creep up to max. 190 °C in previous research projects. The be-havior of the alloy under high cycle fatigue (HCF) and the influence of load spectra have hardly been investigated. Since the operating temperatures of centrifugal compressors are expected to increase in the future, this research project investigated the HCF behavior at 230 °C, a test temperature significantly higher than the age hardening temperature. The objectives of the project were to establish a suitable experimental database, to understand the relevant microstructural processes, and to further develop and adapt suitable models and evaluation methods.
In addition to a basic characterization of the HCF behavior in the initial condition T61, the experimental investigation program included targeted mechanical tests to isolate the influencing factors of mean stress (𝑅=−1, 𝑅=0.1), material overaging (T61, 10 h/230 °C, 1000 h/230 °C), test temperature (20 °C, 230 °C), test frequency (0.2 Hz, 20 Hz) as well as variable amplitudes. On this basis, the models and evaluation methods developed in the previous projects were adapted and further developed to reflect thermal and mechanical loads in the lifetime assessment.
In this review article, the impact of dissolved water on the viscous properties of soda lime silicate melts is addressed against the background of the upcoming switch from natural gas to hydrogen combustion. This change will lead to an increase in the total water content of the glasses by up to 0.4 mol%. In order to better define possible influences of water speciation, water-rich glasses were synthesised under increasing pressure up to the kbar range. It is shown that a distinction must be made between the influence of dissolved OH-groups and H2Omolecules in order to accurately reflect the dependence of isokom temperatures on water content. In addition, an increase of one order of magnitude in the tolerance to higher deformation rates was observed for the range of expected increased water contents during isothermal deformation processes, which is based on the timetemperature superposition principle, i.e. congruent flow curves were determined under isokomal conditions.
Gypsum (CaSO4∙2H2O), bassanite (CaSO4∙0.5H2O), and anhydrite (CaSO4) are essential evaporite minerals for the evolution of hyper-arid surface environments on Earth and Mars (Voigt et al. 2019; Vaniman et al. 2018). The formation mechanism of especially anhydrite has been a matter of scientific debate for more than a century (van’t Hoff et al. 1903). To date, there exists no model that can reliably predict anhydrite formation at earth’s surface conditions. While thermodynamics favor its formation, it is hardly achieved on laboratory time scales at conditions fitting either the Atacama Desert on Earth, or the surface of Mars (Wehmann et al. 2023). In light of most recent developments (e.g. Stawski et al. 2016), that advocate for a complex, non-classical nucleation mechanism for all calcium sulphates, we present an analysis of natural samples from the Atacama Desert to identify key features that promote the nucleation and growth of anhydrite under planetary surface conditions. Our analyses reveal at least three distinct anhydrite facies, with differing mineralogy and micro- to nano-structures. The facies are (1) aeolian deposits with sub-μm grain sizes, (2) (sub-)surface nodules that formed from aeolian deposits and (3) selenites with secondary anhydrite rims. Possible mechanisms of their formation will be discussed.
Recent advances in Deep Learning (DL) have significantly impacted the field of materials modelling. DL tools have been recently considered as promising tools to address the complex relationships among processing, microstructure and property of materials. The thermal stability of polycrystalline materials is a highly interesting and complex problem that could be addressed using DL techniques. The Multi-Phase-Field (MPF) method has emerged as a powerful tool for addressing grain growth phenomena from multiple perspectives. Unlike sharp-interface based methods, the MPF approach bypasses the need for detailed information on individual grains. In this work, we use DL to address issues related to MPF simulations of grain growth including numerical efficiency, computing speed, and resource consumption. This presents specific challenges for high-performance computing (HPC) due to the large datasets and complex computations required by both MPF and DL methods. We study various 3D microstructure settings with the goal of accelerating the simulation process while exploring different physical effects. In particular, the impact of grain boundary and triple junction energies on grain growth are to be investigated. The results will be presented in terms of the evolving size and shape distribution of the grains.
The elastic properties (Young's modulus, shear modulus) of austenitic stainless steel AISI 316L were investigated between room temperature and 900 °C in an additively manufactured variant (laser powder bed fusion, PBF‑LB/M) and from a conventional process route (hot rolled sheet). The moduli were determined using the dynamic resonance method. The data set includes information on processing parameters, heat treatments, grain size, specimen dimensions and weight, Young’s and shear modulus as well as their measurement uncertainty.
The dataset was generated in an accredited testing lab using calibrated measuring equipment. The calibrations meet the requirements of the test procedure and are metrologically traceable. The dataset was audited as BAM reference data.
The elastic properties (Young's modulus, shear modulus) of Ni-based alloy Inconel IN718 were investigated between room temperature and 800 °C in an additively manufactured variant (laser powder bed fusion, PBF‑LB/M) and from a conventional process route (hot rolled bar). The moduli were determined using the dynamic resonance method. The data set includes information on processing parameters, heat treatments, grain size, specimen dimensions and weight, Young’s and shear modulus as well as their measurement uncertainty.
The dataset was generated in an accredited testing lab using calibrated measuring equipment. The calibrations meet the requirements of the test procedure and are metrologically traceable. The dataset was audited as BAM reference data.
The elastic properties (Young's modulus, shear modulus) of titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V were investigated between room temperature and 400 °C in an additively manufactured variant (laser-based directed energy deposition with powder as feedstock, DED-LB/M) and from a conventional process route (hot rolled bar). The moduli were determined using the dynamic resonance method. The data set includes information on processing parameters, heat treatments, microstructure, grain size, specimen dimensions and weight, Young’s and shear modulus as well as their measurement uncertainty.
The dataset was generated in an accredited testing lab using calibrated measuring equipment. The calibrations meet the requirements of the test procedure and are metrologically traceable. The dataset was audited as BAM reference data.
Als elektrische Durchschlagfestigkeit bezeichnet man die elektrische Feldstärke, bei der es zur Entladung durch ein isolierendes Medium kommt. Im Falle von Festkörpern ist dies ein zerstörender Prozess. Bei der messtechnischen Bestimmung der Durchschlagfestigkeit haben neben den verwendeten Messgeräten auch die eingesetzten Elektroden, die Form des Prüfkörpers und das Isoliermedium, in dem die Prüfung stattfindet, einen signifikanten Einfluss auf die ermittelten Messwerte. Im Vortrag werden die Einflüsse erläutert und anhand von Messreihen aus der Literatur und der eigenen Forschung quantifiziert. Aufgrund der vorgestellten Effekte wird klar, dass es sich bei elektrischer Durchschlagfestigkeit nicht um absolute Materialkennwerte handelt, sondern vielmehr um systemabhängige Größen.
Im Vortrag werden das Messprinzip einer Photozentrifuge erläutert und die Anforderungen der zugrundeliegenden Normen diskutiert. Die praktische Durchführung der Messung und insbesondere auch die vorbereitenden Arbeiten, sowie die Auswertung der Rohdaten bilden den Schwerpunkt des Vortrags. Gezeigt werden auch die Validierung sowie ein Beispiel zur regelmäßigen Verifizierung des Verfahrens. Nach Anwendungsbeispielen und Vergleichen zu Ergebnissen mit anderen Messverfahren, wird das Verfahren in einer Zusammenfassung bewertet.
The article covers data on the Brinell hardness of the forged precipitation-hardened aluminum alloy EN AW-2618A in the initial T61 condition (i. e. slightly underaged) and after isothermal aging for up to 25,0 0 0 h at aging temperatures between 160 °C and 350 °C. In addition, the hardness was determined on specimens after creep testing at 190 °C and various stresses. The hardness decreases with increasing ag- ing time due to the microstructural evolution of the harden- ing precipitates. The drop occurs faster the higher the aging temperature. Aging under creep load additionally accelerates the hardness decrease.
Aero-engine turbine disks are safety-relevant components which are operated under high thermal and mechanical stress conditions. The actual part qualification and certification procedures make use of spin-tests conducted on production-similar disks. While these tests provide, on the one hand, a reliable definition of the critical conditions for real components, on the other hand they represent a relevant cost item for engine manufacturers. The aim of this work is to present two alternative burst speed assessment methods under development based on the Failure Assessment Diagram (FAD) and a global stability criterion, respectively. In the scope of the fracture mechanics assessment, the failure modes hoop-burst and rim-peeling are investigated with semicircular surface cracks modelled at the critical regions on the turbine disk. The comparison of the predicted critical rotational speed shows good agreement between the assessment methods.
Along with the desire for developing novel multi-principal element alloys, also known as high-entropy alloys, the concern about their safe application is also increasingly growing. This relates to the alloys’ phase stability, in particular, the control required over unexpected phase decompositions resulting from solute segregation at grain boundaries. Yet, the mechanisms of co-segregation and grain boundary phase decomposition in multi-component alloys are rather challenging to explore. In fact, quantitative investigation of grain boundary behaviors is mostly conducted for binary and a few ternary alloys. In this work, we apply the recently introduced CALPHAD-integrated density-based formalism [RSC Advances 10 (2020) 26728-26741] for considering co-segregation phenomena in alloys with an arbitrary number of components —the term ‘co-segregation’ here refers to co-evolution and any mutual interplay among the solute atoms during their interaction with a grain boundary. Quaternary Fe-Co-Mn-Cr alloy system is studied. We present two major advances beyond previous results: First, a co-segregation-induced multi-component grain boundary spinodal decomposition is quantitatively simulated for the first time. We found that in addition to its low cohesive energy and asymmetrical mixing enthalpy due to magnetic ordering, Mn plays a leading role in triggering interfacial phase decomposition by having a relatively large, concentration-dependent atomic mobility. Second, as an alternative to grain boundary phase diagrams proposed for binary and ternary alloys, we introduce the concept of co-segregation maps for grain boundary segregation screening and design in multi-component alloys. Applying the co-segregation maps, the nonlinear Mn and Cr co-segregation are discussed. Depicted on the alloying composition and phase space, the co-segregation maps enable the required insights to guide a safer, more controlled design of high-entropy alloys.
Lightweighting as a cross-cutting technology contributes significantly to achieve the European Green Deal goals. Based on, but not limited to, advanced materials and production technologies, the demand for natural resources and CO2 emmissions are reduced by lightweighting during production, as well as use phase. Therefore, lightweighting is a crucial transformation technology assisting in decoupling economic growth from resource consumption. In this manner, lightweighting contributes significantly as a key technology of relevance for many industrial sectors such as energy, mobility, and infrastructure, towards resource efficiency, climate action and economic strength, as well as a resilient Europe. To strengthen international partnerships, addressing global issues of today at the edge of science with high performance lightweight material based on carbon fibers, an overview about the BAM expertise in carbon fiber reinforced materials is given.
Introduction
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are one key technology to overcome the climate crisis and energy transition challenges. Demands of electric vehicles on higher capacity and power drives research on innovative cathode and anode materials. These high energy-density LIBs are operated at higher voltages, leading to increased electrolyte decay and the current collectors' degradation. Even though this fundamental corrosion process significantly affects battery performance, insufficient research is being done on the aluminum current collector. Fast and convenient analytical methods are needed for monitoring the aging processes in LIBs.
Methods
In this work glow-discharge optical emission spectrometry (GD-OES) was used for depth profile analysis of aged cathode material. The measurements were performed in pulsed radio frequency mode. Under soft and controlled plasma conditions, high-resolution local determination (in depth) of the elemental composition is possible. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with a focused ion beam (FIB) cutting and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was used to confirm GD-OES results and obtain additional information on elemental distribution.
Results
The aging of coin cells manufactured with different cathode materials (LCO, LMO, NMC111, NMC424, NMC532, NMC622, and NMC811) was studied. GD-OES depth profiling of new and aged cathode materials was performed. Quantitative analysis was possible through calibration with synthetic standards and correction by sputter rate. Different amounts of aluminum deposit on the cathode surface were found for different materials. The deposit has its origin in the corrosion of the aluminum current collector. The results are compatible with results from FIB-EDX. However, GD-OES is a faster and less laborious analytical method. Therefore, it will accelerate research on corrosion processes in high energy-density batteries.
Innovative aspects
- Quantitative depth profiling of cathode material
-Monitoring of corrosion processes in high energy-density lithium-ion batteries
- Systematic investigation of the influence of different cathode materials
Low-temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) are used to fabricate robust multilayer circuits. Typically, thick-film technology is applied for metallization. For specific sensor applications, thin films are deposited directly on the as-fired LTCC-surface. These deposited thin films are structured either by lift-off or by etching. The latter is less error-prone and thus preferred in industry provided the selected materials allow it.
200 nm Ni-thin films were deposited on three different commercial constrained-sintered LTCC (CT708, CT800 and DP951) by electron beam physical vapour deposition. The thin-films were structured by covering corresponding sections with a UV-curable photo resisn and subsequent etching of the uncovered surface, leaving behind the desired structure. The etched Ni-thin film showed high difference in failure rate and sheet resistance regarding the used LTCC-material. DP951 had the lowest sheet resistance and no failure, whereas the CT800 had a failure rate of 40 %. The LTCC with high failure rate showed a strong chemical attack by the used etching medium. To address this phenomenon, the chemical resistance of the three different commercial LTCC (CT708, CT800 and DP951) against four different commonly used etching media (sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, aqua regia, and hydrofluoric acid) is investigated. The dissolved ions are analyzed by ICP-OES to correlate the LTCC-composition and its chemical resistance.
In failure analysis, micro-fractographic analysis of fracture surfaces is usually performed based on practical knowledge which is gained from available studies, own comparative tests, from the literature, as well as online databases. Based on comparisons with already existing images, fracture mechanisms are determined qualitatively. These images are mostly two-dimensional and obtained by light optical and scanning electron imaging techniques. So far, quantitative assessments have been limited to macrocopically determined percentages of fracture types or to the manual measurement of fatigue striations, for example. Recently, more and more approaches relying on computer algorithms have been taken, with algorithms capable of finding and classifying differently structured fracture characteristics. For the Industrial Collective Research (Industrielle Gemeinschaftsforschung, IGF) project “iFrakto” presented in this paper, electron-optical images are obtained, from which topographic information is calculated. This topographic information is analyzed together with the conventional 2D images. Analytical algorithms and deep learning are used to analyze and evaluate fracture characteristics and are linked to information from a fractography database. The most important aim is to provide software aiding in the application of fractography for failure analysis. This paper will present some first results of the project.
Several recent studies have revealed that the phase decomposition in medium- and high-entropy alloys is triggered by solute segregation at grain boundaries. The chemically complex nature of these alloys already clues that such segregation in materials should be something more than the interaction between solutes and grain boundary, but also affected by the solute-solute interactions during the segregation. In fact, experiments indicate the significance of such solute-solute interaction. Yet, the mechanisms of co-segregation in multi-component alloys are rather challenging to explore and rarely studied quantitatively. Recently, a CALPHAD-integrated density-based phase-field model has been proposed for studying grain boundary phenomena. Several applications of this model have shown its expansive capacity for investigating grain boundary segregation and phase behavior. In this talk, the applications of this model to studying co-segregation phenomena and grain boundary phase diagrams in multi-component alloys are presented ––the term ‘co-segregation’ here refers to co-evolution and any mutual interplay among the solutes and grain boundary during the segregation. In particular, the iron-based ternary and quaternary alloys are discussed. I show how a grain boundary may have its own miscibility gap and how this immiscibility can influence the co-segregation behavior. As an alternative to grain boundary phase diagrams, rather suited for binary and ternary alloys, a new concept of co-segregation maps for screening and segregation design in multi-component alloys is presented. Applying the co-segregation maps, the nonlinear Mn and Cr co-segregation in Fe-Co-Mn-Cr is discussed.
Ni-Mn-Ga shape-memory alloys are promising candidates for large strain actuation and magnetocaloric cooling devices. In view of potential small-scale applications, we probe here nanomechanically the stress-induced austenite–martensite transition in single crystalline austenitic thin films as a function of temperature. In 0.5 μm thin films, a marked incipient phase transformation to martensite is observed during nanoindentation, leaving behind pockets of residual martensite after unloading. These nanomechanical instabilities occur irrespective of deformation rate and temperature, are Weibull distributed, and reveal large spatial variations in transformation stress. In contrast, at a larger film thickness of 2 μm fully reversible transformations occur, and mechanical loading remains entirely smooth. Ab-initio simulations demonstrate how an in-plane constraint can considerably increase the martensitic transformation stress, explaining the thickness-dependent nanomechanical behavior. These findings for a shape-memory Heusler alloy give insights into how reduced dimensions and constraints can lead to unexpectedly large transformation stresses that need to be considered in small-scale actuation design.
While a lage amount of research on high entropy alloys is oriented towards mechanical properties and the microstructural improvement it is also necessary to keep an eye on the environment that potential application materials will be submitted to. The Co-Cr-Fe-Ni based high entropy family has shown great potential over the years of high entropy research and some candidate alloys are chosen for an insight into their corrosion behaviour. Several atmospheres are studied, i.e. O2, H2O, SO2 and a mix thereof in argon as well as synthetic air. Just as for classic alloys, the chromium is the most important element in terms of protection agains further corrosion. The addition of manganese, as in case of the “Cantor alloy” CrMnFeCoNi, overpasses Cr when it comes to oxygen affinity and thus counteracts the layer formation of Cr2O3. Even without Mn, a temperature chosen too high will also affect the formation of the chromium oxide layer and spall it off, annulling its protective potential. We can also observe how trace elements influence the layer formation. These effects and their mechanisms will be discussed for the alloys CrFeNi, CoCrNi, CrMnFeCoNi and variations of Al10Co25Cr8Fe15Ni36Ti6 using a combination of electron microscopy, thermodynamic calculations and x-ray diffraction.
Thermoelectric generators are very attractive devices for waste heat energy harvesting as they transform a temperature difference into electrical power. However, commercially available generators show poor power density and limited operation temperatures. Research focuses on high‐temperature materials and innovative generator designs. Finding the optimal design for a given material system is challenging. Here, a theoretical framework is provided that allows appropriate generator design selection based on the particular material properties. For high‐temperature thermoelectric oxides, it can be clearly deduced that unileg multilayer generators have the highest potential for effective energy harvesting. Based on these considerations, prototype unileg multilayer generators from the currently best thermoelectric oxide Ca3Co4O9 are manufactured for the first time by industrially established ceramic multilayer technology. These generators exhibit a power density of 2.2 mW/cm² at a temperature difference of 260 K, matching simulated values and confirming the suitability of the technology. Further design improvements increase the power density by a factor of 22 to facilitate practicable power output at temperature differences as low as 7 K. This work demonstrates that reasonable energy harvesting at elevated temperatures is possible with oxide materials and appropriate multilayer design.
Creep-fatigue of P92 in service-like tests with combined stress- and strain-controlled dwell times
(2023)
Complex service-like relaxation- and creep-fatigue tests with strain- and stress-controlled dwells and fatigue cycle durations of approx. 2200 s were performed exemplarily on a grade P92 steel at 620 ◦C in this study. The results indicate deviations in the prevailing creep mechanisms of long-term relaxation and creep dwells, affecting subsequent dwells, load shifts, and the macroscopic softening behavior quite differently. In addition, fracture surfaces and longitudinal metallographic sections reveal intergranular crack growth for complex loading with stress-controlled dwells, whereas complex strain-controlled tests enhance oxidation and transgranular crack propagation. These findings substantiate the limited transferability of relaxation-fatigue to creep-fatigue conditions.
1. Introduction
A normally unwanted process that can arise when converging an electron beam onto, e.g. microparticles, has been called "damage induced by electric field" (DIEF) [1]. By DIEF, the convergent electron beam (CEB) imparts a high amount of energy to the microparticle locally and strongly interacts with its atoms. At a specific current density J, which can be controlled by the convergence angle α, the irradiated material begins to transform. The phenomenon of expelling nanomaterial from microparticles under the influence of a convergent electron beam (CB) in a transmission electron microscope (TEM) has been largely studied [2]. Several types of nanoparticles (NPs) have been observed for different metallic materials and metal oxides after specific CB protocols (P) in the TEM. Thus, DIEF can be used as a promising synthesis method controlled changes of micrometric material to create new nanometric material compositions and morphologies.
While these reactions have been observed in situ at the high acceleration voltages associated with TEM, it remains unclear whether the SEM can also be used to fabricate NPs via DIEF. In contrast to TEM there is no possibility to statically convert the electron beam to a range of α to reach the needed J as in TEM. Instead, the scanning parameters and the magnification can be manipulated so as to find an integrated J. Considering that the scanning electron microscope (SEM) is easier to use, more accessible and cheaper than a TEM, here we explore the possibility to transfer the concepts of DIEF known to operate in the TEM for in situ NP generation SEM.
2. Objectives
The main goal is to determine whether DIEF can be translated to the SEM perform to controlled in situ fabrication of nanoparticles from microparticles, using gold microparticles on amorphous SiO substrate as precursors. We determine what experimental parameters must be taken into account to create SEM-based CBPs for NP creation in the SEM with these materials.
3. Materials & methods
Gold microparticles with diameter of around 1 to 3 µm were deposited on electron transparent amorphous SiO/SiO2 substrate. Using a convergent electron beam protocol (CBP) in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at an acceleration voltage of 30 kV, the gold microparticles were irradiated until a production of NPs takes place as shown in figure 1. The beam current varied between 16 and 23 nA.
4. Results
Depending on the CBP parameters, either only Au NPs or a mixture of Au and Si NPs are produced. The particle size ranges from a few nm up to 100 nm, and it depends on the distance of the NP to the initial position of the microparticle. Further beam parameters such as the dwell time, the effective irradiated volume and particle size determine whether NPs are produced or if the microparticles only are expelled from the substrate without reacting.
5. Conclusion
The SEM can be used as an instrument for synthesizing nanomaterials via DIEF. Different CBP protocols can be applied for obtaining either gold nanoparticles or silicon + gold nanoparticles
This contribution contains the raw data used to compare experimental results with thermodynamic calculations using the CALPHAD method, which is related to the research article “The AlMo0.5NbTa0.5TiZr refractory high entropy superalloy: experimental findings and comparison with calculations using the CALPHAD method” [1] , and therefore this article can be used as a basis for interpreting the data contained therein. The AlMo0.5NbTa0.5TiZr refractory superalloy was characterized in the cast and annealed condition (1400 °C for 24 h) in order to measure grain size and to identify and measure the size and area fraction of the phases present. The raw data of this article include X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements, microstructural characterization by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), and elemental analysis by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). XRD includes the determination of phases and the lattice parameters (A2, B2, and hexagonal structure). Microstructural analysis by scanning and transmission electron microscopy includes (1) identification of composition, size, and volume fraction of the present phases and (2) determination of grain size. Based on these experimental data, it is possible to identify similarities and discrepancies with the data calculated using the CALPHAD method for the alloy under study in Ref. [1] , which provides the basis for better and more efficient development of reliable databases.
This contribution contains the raw data used to compare experimental results with thermodynamic calculations using the CALPHAD method, which is related to the research article “The AlMo0.5NbTa0.5TiZr refractory high entropy superalloy: experimental findings and comparison with calculations using the CALPHAD method” [1] , and therefore this article can be used as a basis for interpreting the data contained therein. The AlMo0.5NbTa0.5TiZr refractory superalloy was characterized in the cast and annealed condition (1400 °C for 24 h) in order to measure grain size and to identify and measure the size and area fraction of the phases present. The raw data of this article include X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements, microstructural characterization by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), and elemental analysis by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). XRD includes the determination of phases and the lattice parameters (A2, B2, and hexagonal structure). Microstructural analysis by scanning and transmission electron microscopy includes (1) identification of composition, size, and volume fraction of the present phases and (2) determination of grain size. Based on these experimental data, it is possible to identify similarities and discrepancies with the data calculated using the CALPHAD method for the alloy under study in Ref. [1] , which provides the basis for better and more efficient development of reliable databases.
The dataset provided in this repository comprises data obtained from a series of full-notch creep tests (FNCT) performed on selected high-density polyethylene (PE-HD) materials (for further details, see section 1 Materials in this document) in accordance with the corresponding standard ISO 16770.
The FNCT is one of the mechanical testing procedures used to characterize polymer materials with respect to their environmental stress cracking (ESC) behavior. It is widely applied for PE-HD materials, that are predominantly used for pipe and container applications. It is based on the determination of the time to failure for a test specimen under constant mechanical load in a well-defined and temperature controlled liquid environment. The test device used here also allows for continuous monitoring of applied force, specimen elongation and temperature.
Irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) is known to be a combination of applied stress, and a corrosive environment in irradiated materials, but an appropriate understanding of how each of these components affects cracking is not yet clear. In this work, we isolate the role of grain boundary (GB) oxidation in IASCC. For this purpose, solution-annealed 304L stainless steel irradiated in reactor to 5.4 or 69 dpa was studied using a miniaturized four-point bend technique. Two modes of bend tests were conducted; straining in simulated pressurized water reactor primary water (PW) at 320 ◦C in an incremental manner, and pre-oxidation in PW at 320 ◦C without application of stress followed by dynamic straining in purified Ar at the same temperature until crack initiation. Exposure of the 5.4 dpa sample for 210 h in high temperature water initiated cracks in Ar at 60% of the yield stress (0.6YS), whereas the companion sample of the same dose exposed for 1010 h cracked in Ar at 0.5YS. The long-term exposure in water led to GB oxidation that ultimately lowered the crack initiation stress. Dynamic straining in water resulted in larger crack lengths and greater crack depths indicating stress accelerated oxidation and cracking. Dislocation pile-ups at dislocation channel-grain boundary sites provide an amplification of the applied stress to a level consistent with the fracture stress of the grain boundary oxide, providing an explanation for IASCC that occurs at applied stresses well below the irradiated yield stress of the alloy. There was no evidence of cracking upon straining of an unoxidized 69 dpa sample in Ar to well above yield, confirming that the irradiated state is not inherently susceptible to intergranular (IG) cracking and that oxidized GBs are responsible for initiation of IG cracking.
In our current view, reference datasets in the MSE domain represent specific material properties, e.g., structural, mechanical, … characteristics. A reference dataset must fulfill high-quality standards, not only in precision of measurement but also in a comprehensive documentation of material, processing, and testing history (metadata). This Infrastructure Use Case (IUC) aims to develop a framework for generating reference material datasets using creep data of a single crystal Ni-based superalloy as a best practice example. In a community-driven process, we aim to encourage the discussion and establish a framework for the creation and distribution of reference material datasets. In this poster presentation, we highlight our current vision and activities and intend to stimulate the discussion about the topic reference datasets and future collaborations and work.
Grain boundary (GB) chemical and structural variations can significantly influence materials performance. The former is generally ascribed to the structural gradient between the grain and GB. While GB segregation may be accompanied by chemical and structural variations, clear insights about the GB’s thermodynamic phase behaviour upon coupling between its chemistry and structure is lacking. Using the CALPHAD integrated density-based phase field model, we study the co-evolution of GB’s structure and segregation in Fe-Mn alloys. We found that the GB segregation transition is amplified if its structure can respond to chemical variation. Additionally, the coupling between GB structural and segregation evolution was found to enable co-existence of the spinodally formed low- and high-Mn phases within the GB. In the light of atomistic simulations, we expand on investigating the correlation between the parameters that characterise the GB density map with GB properties.
Destructive and non-destructive 3D-characterization of inner metal structures in ceramic packages
(2023)
Ceramic multilayer packages provide successful solutions for manifold
applications in telecommunication, microsystem, and sensor technology. In such packages, three-dimensional circuitry is generated by combination of structured and metallized ceramic layers by means of tape casting and multilayer technology. During development and for quality assurance in manufacturing, characterization of integrity, deformation, and positioning of the inner metal features is necessary.
Visualization with high resolution and material contrast is needed.
Robot-assisted 3D-materialography is a useful technique to characterize such multimaterial structures. In that, many sections of the specimen are polished and imaged automatically. A three-dimensional representation of the structure is created by digital combination of the image stack. A quasi non-destructive approach is to perform X-ray computer tomography (CT) with different beam energies. The energies are chosen to achieve a good imaging of either the metal features, or the ceramic matrix of the structure. The combination of the respective tomograms results in a high contrast representation of the entire structure. Both methods were tested to characterize Ag and Ag/Pd conductors in a ceramic multilayer package. The results were compared in terms of information content, effort, and applicability of the methods.
High energy X-ray synchrotron diffraction is used to investigate the elastic anisotropy of the nickel-based superalloy IN718 produced by laser powder bed fusion (PBF-LB). This material is characterized by a columnar grain morphology with some crystallographic texture. The material is subjected to elastic loading to determine the diffraction elastic constants (DECs). Furthermore, the single-crystal elastic constants (SCEC) are refined from these experiments using different micromechanical models. The results show that each micromechanical model predicts a specific set of SCEC that well describes the elastic anisotropy of PBF-LB/IN718.
Many microstructural features exhibit non-trivial geometries, which can only be derived to a limited extent from two-dimensional images. E.g., graphite arrangements in lamellar gray cast iron have complex geometries, and the same is true for additively manufactured materials and three-dimensional conductive path structures. Some can be visualized using tomographic methods, but some cannot be due to weak contrast and/or lack of resolution when analyzing macroscopic objects. Classic metallography can help but must be expanded to the third dimension. The method of reconstructing three-dimensional structures from serial metallographic sections surely is not new. However, the effort required to manually assemble many individual sections into image stacks is very high and stands in the way of frequent application. For this reason, an automated, robot-supported 3D metallography system is being developed at BAM, which carries out the steps of repeated preparation and image acquisition on polished specimen.
Preparation includes grinding, polishing and optionally etching of the polished surface. Image acquisition comprises autofocused light microscopic imaging at several magnification levels. The image stacks obtained are then pre-processed, segmented, and converted into 3D models, which in the result appear like microtomographic models, but with high resolution at large volume. Contrasting by classical chemical etching reveals structures that cannot be resolved using tomographic methods. The integration of further imaging and measuring methods into this system is underway. Some examples will be discussed in the presentation.
Die AG Fraktographie im DVM/DGM-Gemeinschaftsgremium „Elektronenmikroskopie in der Materialforschung“ betreibt seit 2013 eine fraktographische online-Datenbank („FractoDB“), die für das interessierte Fachpublikum kostenfrei zur Verfügung steht. Die Analyse und Bewertung von Bruchflächen und der darauf befindlichen Bruchmerkmale ist ein wichtiger Teilaspekt der Schadensanalyse bei der Suche nach Schadensmechanismen und Schadensursachen. Risse und Brüche an realen Bauteilen können nur dann bewertet werden, wenn gut dokumentierte Vergleichsbrüche aus Laborversuchen zur Verfügung stehen, sei es an Proben oder an Vergleichs-Bauteilen. Daher trägt die AG Fraktographie Bildmaterial zusammen, führt systematisch Laborversuche und Ringversuche durch und analysiert Brüche aus Schadensfällen. Die gewonnenen Daten werden zu Datensätzen zusammengestellt und über die Datenbank zugänglich gemacht. Derzeit ist ein Bestand von über 400 Datensätzen mit insgesamt über 4.500 Bildern verfügbar, welcher durchsucht werden kann und in Anlehnung an die VDI 3822 organisiert ist. Weitere Aktivitäten der AG Fraktographie, die in der FractoDB abgebildet werden, sind u.a. die Entwicklung einer fraktographischen Symbolik und die Analyse von Bruchmerkmalen mittels Machine Learning. Über die aktuellen Ergebnisse und Planungen wird berichtet.
Die Fraktographische Online-Datenbank der AG Fraktographie – Entwicklungsstand und weitere Planung
(2023)
Vortrag zum aktuellen Stand der fraktographischen online-Datenbank. Darstellung des AGM/DVM Gemeinschaftsausschusses REM in der Materialforschung und seiner Arbeitsgruppen Fraktographie, EBSD und 2D/3D-Prüfung. Ziele und Inhalte der fraktographischen Datenbank, Aufruf zum Mitmachen. Durchführung von Vergleichsversuchen, Entwicklung einer fraktographischen Symbolik, Ringversuch, Vorhaben iFrakto mit Entwicklung einer KI-gestützten Bruchflächenanalyse.
We report about a joint project aiming at the digitalization of a lab course in materials testing. The undergraduate students were asked to prepare samples of a precipitation hardened aluminum alloy and characterize them using hardness and tensile tests. In a first step, we developed the frames for the digital labor notebook using eLabFTW. The primary data and the relevant metadata of each run were saved in a central database and made available for analysis and report issues. The whole set of results produced in a course was made available in the database. This database can be improved and serve as an open repository for data on this specific alloy.
The logical frame for the joint project was provided by the PMD Core Ontology (PMDco), a mid-level ontology that enables the representation and description of processes and process chains in an MSE-specific manner, ensuring full traceability of generated data. For the digitalization of this lab course, the tensile test ontology (TTO) was applied which is designed as a module of the PMDco using strongly related semantic concepts.
The high-temperature corrosion behaviors of the equimolar CrCoNi medium- and CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloy were studied in a gas atmosphere consisting of a volumetric mixture of 10% H2O, 2% O2, 0.5% SO2, and 87.5% Ar at 800 °C for up to 96 h. Both alloys were initially single-phase fcc structured and showed a mean grain size of ~50 µm and a homogeneous chemical composition. The oxide layer thickness of the Cantor alloy CrMnFeCoNi increased linearly with exposure time while it remained constant at ~1 µm for CrCoNi. A Cr2O3 layer and minor amounts of (Co,Ni)Cr2O4 developed on CrCoNi while three layers were detected on the Cantor alloy. These layers were a thin and continuous chromium rich oxide layer at the oxide/alloy interface, a dense (Mn,Cr)3O4 layer in the center and a thick and porous layer of Mn3O4 and MnSO4 at the gas/oxide interface. Additionally, a few metal sulfides were observed in the CrMnFeCoNi matrix. These results were found to be in reasonable agreement with thermodynamic calculations.
Results of an extended TMF test program on grade P92 steel in the temperature range of 620 ◦C–300 ◦C, comprising in-phase (IP) and out-of-phase (OP) tests, partly performed with symmetric dwells at Tmax/Tmin, are presented. In contrast to previous studies, the low-strain regime is also illuminated, which approaches flexible operation in a power plant with start/stop cycles. At all strain amplitudes, the material performance is characterized by continuous cyclic softening, which is retarded in tests at lower strains but reaches similar magnitudes in the course of testing. In the investigated temperature range, the phase angle does not affect fatigue life in continuous experiments, whereas the IP condition is more detrimental in tests with dwells. Fractographic analyses indicate creep-dominated and fatigue-dominated damage for IP and OP, respectively. Analyses of the (micro)hardness distribution in the tested specimens suggest an enhanced microstructural softening in tests with dwell times for the low- but not for the high-strain regime. To rationalize the obtained fatigue data, the fracturemechanics-based DTMF concept, which was developed for TMF life assessment of ductile alloys, was applied. It is found that the DTMF parameter correlates well with the measured fatigue lives, suggesting that subcritical growth of cracks (with sizes from a few microns to a few millimeters) governs failure in the investigated range of strain amplitudes.
This article reports temperature-dependent elastic properties (Young’s modulus, shear modulus) of three alloys measured by the dynamic resonance method. The alloys Ti-6Al-4V, Inconel IN718, and AISI 316 L were each investigated in a variant produced by an additive manufacturing processing route and by a conventional manufacturing processing route. The datasets include information on processing routes and parameters, heat treatments, grain size, specimen dimensions, and weight, as well as Young’s and shear modulus along with their measurement uncertainty. The process routes and methods are described in detail. The datasets were generated in an accredited testing lab, audited as BAM reference data, and are hosted in the open data repository Zenodo. Possible data usages include the verification of the correctness of the test setup via Young’s modulus comparison in low-cycle fatigue (LCF) or thermo-mechanical fatigue (TMF) testing campaigns, the design auf VHCF specimens and the use as input data for simulation purposes.
Several studies have shown that the electron beam (e-beam) can be used to create nanomaterials from microparticles in situ in a TEM. However, attempts to produce gold nanoparticles (NPs) on silicon oxide substrate remained to be accomplished. Here, we show that the production of gold NPs is possible by using the e-beam in a SEM, under a set of parameters. To understand the physical mechanisms leading to the gold NPs, the mechanisms of e-beam induced charging as well as e-beam induced heating of the MPs were discussed. Several hints point to heating as the driving mechanism.
Several studies have shown that the electron beam (e-beam) can be used to create nanomaterials from microparticles in situ in a TEM. However, attempts to produce gold nanoparticles (NPs) on silicon oxide substrate remained to be accomplished. Here, we show that the production of gold NPs is possible by using the e-beam in a SEM, under a set of parameters. The NPs produced present a size gradient along the radial direction. A parameter study shows that the microparticles may: 1) flicker away without producing NPs, 2) fragment to form NPs and/or 3) react with the silicon oxide substrate, depending on the applied current. A hypothesis regarding the driving physical phenomena that lead the microparticles to fragment into NPs is discussed. Fabrication of gold NPs in the SEM provides a more cost-effective option as compared to the established method in the TEM.
3D printing or additive manufacturing in space is of great value for long-term human spaceflight missions and space stations, conveniently offering access to a ‘virtual warehouse’ of tools and spare parts on the push of a button. The process only needs one type of feedstock such as powder or filament and only as much material as the final part requires, giving it a huge weight benefit over traditional subtractive methods.
While 3D printers are already operational on the ISS since 2014, the utilized processes are only capable of manufacturing relatively low strength parts from polymers not suitable for many tools or critical components. To gain access to high quality metal prints, a modified Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) process was developed to stabilize the critical powder bed in microgravity through a gas flow [2]. This setup was able to generate a (miniature) steel wrench during parabolic flights, but a reliable layer deposition has raised challenges due to the combination of gas flow parameters with microgravity conditions. Furthermore, the quality and density of the powder bed, which is critical for the process, cannot be examined afterward on the ground. This is due to hyper gravity phases during the flight that are influencing the properties of the powder bed.
In this paper, the challenges of the layer deposition are revised, and the subsequent evolution of the recoating system explained. Later, the challenges of an in-situ quality control, evaluation, and quantification of the properties of the powder bed are examined. As a solution, a high-resolution line-scanner is proposed and its implementation int the compact LPBF system demonstrated. Its ability to measure common defects such as ridges in the deposited layer is shown in experiments at normal gravity. As an illustration, Figure 1 shows an extreme case of the formation of ridges.