Hybrid laser sintering method for manufacturing of metallic glasses

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Jens P. Wulfsberg
• Subject Area: Primary Shaping and Reshaping Technology, Additive Manufacturing ; Production Automation and Assembly Technology
• Term: from 2014 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 254258000

Materials belonging to the group of metallic glasses have an amorphous structure. They are suitable for the production of mechanically stressed micro components because of their outstanding mechanical properties compared to other metallic materials. Today there is only a limited range of manufacturing processes, and there is a need for research to enable the manufacturing of complex geometry elements preventing the material from recrystallization. For this purpose, exceeding the recrystallization temperature of the material must be avoided. The aim of this research project is the development of a hybrid process for the manufacturing of complex 3-dimensional workpieces from powdered amorphous metals. Energy therefore is supplied coevel mechanically by compression and thermally by laser radiation. The application of laser energy to the metal powder is effected through transparent molds made of sapphire. By such a force- and temperature controlled sintering process, the required material cohesion can be generated on the one hand and on the other hand, the specific material properties can be obtained because the recrystallization temperature is not exceeded. By analytical and numerical modeling, experiments and technical systems engineering suitable process windows will be identified, and system technology will be realized.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants