Single-Track Melt-Pool Measurements and Microstructures in Inconel 625

TL;DR

This study combines experiments and simulations to analyze melt pool dimensions and microstructures in Inconel 625 during laser melting, providing insights into process-microstructure relationships.

Contribution

It introduces a combined experimental and simulation approach to estimate melt pool dimensions and predict microstructures in Inconel 625.

Findings

Experimental melt pool dimensions agree with finite element simulations.

Phase-field simulations predict microstructure size and segregation patterns.

The approach enhances understanding of laser melting effects on Inconel 625.

Abstract

We use single track laser melting experiments and simulations on Inconel 625 to estimate the dimensions and microstructures of the resulting melt pools. Our work is based on a design-of-experiments approach which uses multiple laser power and scan speed combinations. Single track experiments generate melt pools of certain dimensions. These dimensions reasonably agree with our finite element calculations. Phase-field simulations predict the size and segregation of the cellular microstructures that form along the melt pool boundaries for the solidification conditions that change as a function of melt pool dimensions.