Additive Manufacturing of a Lightweight Al-Ca Alloy by Direct Energy Deposition and Laser Powder Bed Fusion

High strength and low density materials are needed to achieve lightweight design of components. Aluminum base metals alloyed with calcium are of potential interest because of the low density of calcium and its abundance. The additive manufacturing of dense and crack free samples out of an Al-10 wt.% Ca (Al-10Ca) alloy is presented. Both laser-based direct energy deposition (DED-LB) and laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) processes were applied to manufacture sample material. Preheating of the substrate plate is needed in LPBF to receive crack free samples. An analysis of the microstructure shows an Al-Al4Ca lamellar eutectic.