Quasi-Static High Temperature Behavior of Laser Powder Bed Fusion Inconel 718 as a Function of Wall Thickness and HIP Condition

Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) is an additive manufacturing (AM) technology that has emerged as the predominant technology for metal 3D printing. An alloy of particular interest to the aerospace industry is the nickel-based superalloy, Inconel 718 (IN718), which is widely used for its superior performance in elevated temperature conditions, particularly for gas-turbine engine blades and heat exchangers. With LPBF providing new ways of exploiting complex part geometry, the high-temperature properties of the AM version of the alloy must be understood. Of additional interest is how these properties change as a function of geometry and post-processing. This research focuses on the behavior of LPBF IN718 as a function of hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and specimen thickness at elevated temperatures. These results and behavior were compared to the behavior of IN718 sheet metal for properties such as True Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS), Yield Strength, Young’s Modulus, percent elongation, and necking. The results showed dependence of strength on both thickness and HIP condition, and also exhibited a steep drop in UTS and yield strength at 1600 °F, linearly declining modulus, and excess dynamic strain ageing (DSA) behavior at certain temperatures.