Heat affected zone Relationship with processing parameter in Additive Manufacturing Process

The microstructural development in additive manufacturing process is characterized by columnar grains that are produced as a result of globular grains that are formed in the heat affected zone during solidification of melt pool. This microstructure development also account for the evolving property disparity obtained using additive manufacturing process that is largely dependent on the processing parameters. In this study, heat affected zone produced during laser metal deposition process of laser metal deposition of titanium alloy grade five was studied. Laser metal deposition process is an additive manufacturing technology. The laser power was varied from 0.8 to 3.0 kW while other processing parameters were kept at constant values. The influence of laser power on the length of heat affected zone into the substrate was studied. The study showed that the length of heat affected zone increases with increasing laser power. The importance of this study is know the length of this heat affected zone as it relates to the laser power, the knowledge will help to know the highest power to employ for application where this heat affected zone needs to be minimized.