Research Progress on Refractory Metal Prepared by Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing

Abstract:

The development of additive manufacturing (AM) has brought innovative opportunities for the precision forming of high-melting-point refractory metals (such as tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, and their alloys). However, due to the inherent properties of refractory metals such as high melting point, their AM processes exhibit significant particularities different from those of other metal materials. Based on the metal powder bed fusion (PBF) AM techniques represented by selective laser melting (SLM) and selective electron beam melting (SEBM), this paper systematically reviewed the research progress of tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, and their alloys in AM field. The research focused on the powder preparation technique of refractory metals, as well as the microstructure regulation strategies of typical process defects (such as pore, cracking, grain coarsening) during the forming process and mechanical properties of these alloys. In addition, this paper also summarized the key faced in the industrialization process of refractory metals prepared by AM and prospected the future development trends.