Biocompatibility characteristics and other important favorable properties such as low elastic modulus and hypotoxicity of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy have been given much attention in medical applications, particularly in orthopedic and dental fields.

Despite the substantive potential of Ti-6Al-4V alloy for orthopedic and dental fields, the additive manufacturing components of Ti-6Al-4V alloys lack dimensional accuracy, particularly in fabricating complex-shaped parts.

Due to the previously deposited layer's re-melting and solidification and repetitive reheating and cooling thermal cycles, the residual stresses are developed and distort the final components. As a result, additively manufactured components experience lower dimensional precision.

Understanding the local microstructural and mechanical properties evolution is important to have control of the additive layers' deposition strategies.

To this end, local microstructure and mechanical anisotropic behavior studies of SLM-fabricated Ti-6Al-4V alloy are carried out in the present work. A sample of 10 × 10 × 10 mm³ size with a layer thickness of 60 μm was used for the study. The laser powder and energy density used were 220 W and 60 J/mm³. The scanning speed and spacing were 660 mm/s and 90 μm, respectively.

The laser scanning direction of the SLM deposited sample has the highest strength and microhardness because of the refinement of α-phase and dislocation pinning phenomena.

To understand the local strength behavior, a miniature tensile testing technique was employed in the laser scanning and build direction, of the SLM deposited sample. Also, a conventionally prepared Ti-6Al-4V alloy was taken to compare with the SLM deposited sample.

This article is shared by Md Parwez Alam and Murshid Imam.