Mechanical and in situ thermal-related behavior during directed energy deposition additive manufacturing of a high-performance Al alloy

Directed energy deposition (DED) additive manufacturing (AM) can fabricate, repair, and join near-net-shaped components for high-performance engineering applications, including biomedical, energy, and transport sectors. The broader adoption of DED remains constrained by the limited number of alloys available that can be reliably manufactured without imperfections, hence limiting mechanical properties. Here, we designed an Al–Ni–Ce–Mn–Fe AM alloy that can achieve an ultra-fine microstructure (<5 μm), uniform distribution of intermetallics, low residual stress (<32 MPa), and superior mechanical properties in as-built DED components. Compared to DED AlSi10Mg in the as-built state using the same conditions, the yield increased by 70%, and the ultimate tensile strength by 50%. DED-AM involves rapid cooling and complex thermal conditions, which largely influence the property of the final components. Post-characterization cannot capture the time resolved thermal behavior, hence offer limited mechanism-based guide for alloy design. In this study, we develop a novel multimodal characterization methodology for correlative in situ X-ray imaging, X-ray diffraction, and infrared imaging, enabling quantification of the in situ thermal-related behavior, including phase evolution, temperature distribution, and stress accumulation during DED. We elucidated key mechanisms driving the structure refinement and stress development in this alloy. The insights gained into the interplay between alloy composition, thermal-related behavior, and performance under specific AM conditions inform next-generation material design tailored for AM technologies.