Selective Laser Melting Based Additive Manufacturing: Materials, Properties and Defect Analysis

Our work presents a comprehensive report on selective laser melting (SLM) techniques with a specific focus on the different material families compatible with the SLM process, the mechanical and microstructural characteristics, residual stress and defect analyses. The major process parameters that determine the geometric accuracy and post-treatment techniques that eradicate defects in SLM fabrication are also reviewed. Then, a keyword co-occurrence analysis is performed to determine the future research directions in the SLM. The results showed mechanical characteristaion of SLM, defect analysis of SLM, SLM fabrication of porous implants and bulk metallic glass production using SLM to be the four major domains in SLM literature.