A Comprehensive Review on Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing of Inconel Superalloys
Authors :- Tanwar, R.S., Bhingole, P., Jhavar, S.
Publication :- Advances in Materials Engineering. Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering. Springer.
In the realm of Industry 4.0, additive manufacturing (AM) techniques are poised to revolutionize conventional manufacturing processes. Unlike traditional methods where component complexity often escalates costs, AM offers a unique advantage by not adding extra expenses with increasing intricacy. Employing powder or wire feedstock, AM fabricates metal components, with wire-based AM demonstrating a higher deposition rate and reduced fabrication time compared to powder-based methods. This makes Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) particularly suitable for large-scale production. Nickel-based superalloys stand out for their exceptional tensile strength, corrosion resistance, and fatigue endurance at elevated temperatures, rendering them ideal for demanding applications such as aircraft, nuclear, oil and gas, turbocharger rotors, gas turbines, and the chemical industry. This article delineates various AM methodologies employed for fabricating Ni-based alloys, encompassing diverse WAAM approaches utilizing Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Plasma Arc Welding (PAW), and other wire-based AM techniques such as Electron Beam Wire feed AM and Laser Wire feed AM. It delves into the microstructural characteristics, mechanical properties, and the challenges inherent in fabrication and post-processing, crucial for achieving the desired component attributes.