Hybrid Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing of Ti–6Al–4V: Processing, Microstructure, and Mechanical Properties

Abstract Processing, microstructure, and mechanical properties of the hybrid electron beam powder bed fusion (E-PBF) additive manufacturing of Ti–6Al–4V have been investigated. We explore the possibility of integrating the substrate as a part of the final component as a repair, integrated, or consolidated part. Various starting plate surface conditions are used to understand the joining behavior and their microstructural properties in the bonding region between the plate and initial deposited layers. It is found that mechanical failures mainly occur within the substrate region due to the dominant plastic strains localized in the weaker Ti–6Al–4V substrate. The hybrid concept is successfully proven with satisfactory bonding performance between the E-PBF build and substrate. This investigation improves the practice of using the hybrid E-PBF additive manufacturing technique and provides basic understanding to this approach.