Enhanced strength-ductility of deposited Al-Mg-Sc alloy through interlayer hammering and in-situ heating

Abstract

Wire-arc directed energy deposition (DED-Arc) combined with interlayer plastic strengthening has shown good advantages and feasibility in manufacturing high-performance components. However, simultaneously improving strength and ductility remains challenging. Based on DED-Arc technology, this study proposed a hybrid manufacturing approach integrating interlayer hammering and in-situ heating. The impacts of the novel process on pore inhibition, microstructure evolution, and mechanical properties were explored. The results indicated that, compared to the conventionally deposited alloy, the alloy produced via the novel process demonstrates increases of 28.3 % in yield strength, 22.2 % in ultimate tensile strength, and 21.8 % in ductility. The simultaneous improvement of alloy strength and ductility arose from the combined effects of the thermal and mechanical forces, primarily through pore inhibition, grain refinement, precipitation strengthening, and increased dislocation density. This study overcame the strength-ductility trade-off, providing new insights for improving techniques to enhance the performance of DED-Arc components.