Additive manufacturing nickel-aluminum bronze alloy via wire-fed electron beam directed energy deposition: Enhanced mechanical properties and corrosion resistance compared to as-cast counterpart

In the present work, a wall-structured nickel-aluminum bronze (NAB) alloy was fabricated via electron beam directed energy deposition (EB-DED) additive manufacturing with a single-pass multi-layer deposition strategy. A comprehensive comparative analysis of microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance was conducted against a conventionally cast NAB alloy. The inherent rapid solidification and cyclic thermal processing of the EB-DED technique profoundly influenced the microstructural evolution of the NAB alloy. The as-deposited NAB alloy exhibited a fine-grained microstructure, devoid of the martensitic β′ phase, accompanied by the spheroidization of partial κ precipitates, and a homogeneous distribution of alloying elements. These distinctive microstructural attributes synergistically enhanced the strength, hardness, and toughness of the NAB alloy, conferring superior mechanical properties compared to its cast counterpart. Furthermore, the as-deposited alloy demonstrated remarkable corrosion resistance in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, significantly outperforming the cast alloy. The underlying mechanisms governing the structure-property relationships were elucidated. This comprehensive investigation provided insights into the unique characteristics and potential applications of EB-DED fabricated NAB alloys, positioning them as promising candidates for high-performance components subjected to severe mechanical and corrosive service conditions.