Unveiling the characteristics of ER70S-6 low carbon steel alloy produced by wire arc additive manufacturing at different travel speeds.

Dekis, Mohammed; Tawfik, Mahmoud; Egiza, Mohamed; Dewidar, Montasser

Abstract

Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) produces metal components with crucial properties dependent on process parameters. Understanding the effects of these parameters on microstructure and mechanical properties is vital for optimizing WAAM. This study investigated the impact of varying travel speeds (TS) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of low carbon steel ER70S-6 alloy produced by WAAM process. The hypothesis centred on the impact of different TS values on heat input (HI) and cooling rates, and the subsequent effects on the resulting microstructure and mechanical properties of the deposited material. ER70S-6 alloy was deposited at three different TS: 120, 150, and 180mm/min. Microstructure and mechanical properties (microhardness, tensile strength, elongation) were evaluated for each TS condition. Distinct microstructures were observed in the deposited samples, influenced by cooling rates at different TS. Distinct microstructures emerged in different regions of the deposits due to varying cooling rates at different TS. Higher TS (180mm/min) significantly reduced pores and cracks while enhancing yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) up to 25.2 ± 0.77% elongation and 502.3 ± 3.17MPa UTS, respectively. However, UTS remained slightly lower (93%) than the catalogued value for ER70S-6 (540MPa), indicating a mild softening effect. TS significantly influenced the microstructure and mechanical properties of WAAM-produced ER70S-6 alloy. This study provides key insights into optimizing WAAM parameters for low carbon steel, paving the way for improved component production for diverse industrial applications.

Citation

DEKIS, M., TAWFIK, M., EGIZA, M. and DEWIDAR, M. 2025. Unveiling the characteristics of ER70S-6 low carbon steel alloy produced by wire arc additive manufacturing at different travel speeds. Metals and materials international [online], 31(2), pages 325-338. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12540-024-01766-x

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 15, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Aug 12, 2024
• Publication Date: Feb 28, 2025
• Deposit Date: Aug 23, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 23, 2024
• Journal: Metals and materials international
• Print ISSN: 1598-9623
• Electronic ISSN: 2005-4149
• Publisher: Springer
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 31
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 325-338
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12540-024-01766-x
• Keywords: Low carbon steel alloy; Mechanical properties; Microstructure; Travel speed (TS); Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM)
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2440643