Inconel 718 is one of the most commonly employed alloys for metal additive manufacturing (MAM) and has a wide range of applications in aircraft, gas turbines, turbocharger rotors, and a variety of other corrosive and structural applications involving temperatures of up to ∼700 °C. Numerous studies have investigated different aspects of the mechanical behaviour of additively manufactured (AM) Inconel 718. This study analyses the observations from more than 170 publications to provide an unbiased engineering overview for the mechanical response of AM Inconel 718 (and its variations and spread among different reports). First, a brief review of the microstructural features of AM Inconel 718 is presented. This is followed by a comprehensive summary of tensile strength, hardness, fatigue strength, and high-temperature creep behaviour of AM Inconel 718 for different types of MAM techniques and for different process and post-process conditions.

A review of mechanical properties of additively manufactured Inconel 718

On the origin of microstructural banding in Ti-6Al4V wire-arc based high deposition rate additive manufacturing

Aerospace is a key market driver for the advancement of additive manufacturing (AM) due to the huge demands in high-mix low-volume production of high-value parts, integrated complex part geometries and simplified fabrication workflow. Rapid and significant progress has been made in the laser additive manufacturing (LAM) of aeroengine materials, including the advanced high-strength steels, nickel-based superalloys and titanium-based alloys. Despite the extensive investigation of these three families of materials by the research community, there is a lack of comprehensive review on LAM of high strength steels, and existing gaps in published reviews on Ti-based alloys and Ni-based superalloys. Furthermore, although emerging materials such as high/medium entropy alloys and heterostructured materials exhibit promising mechanical performance, rigorous characterization, testing, qualification, and certification are still required before actual application in engine parts. Thus, it is still important and relevant to have a deep understanding on the relationship between process parameters – microstructures – mechanical properties in these widely used aeroengine materials, to drive the development of superior high-value alloys. This review aims to provide a critical and in-depth evaluation of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) and laser directed energy deposition (LDED) technologies of the mentioned aeroengine materials. The review will summarize the material properties, performance envelops and outlines the research gaps of these aeroengine materials. Furthermore, perspectives on research opportunities, materials development, and new R&D approaches of LAM for the aeroengine materials are also highlighted.

Progress and perspectives in laser additive manufacturing of key aeroengine materials

Fracture and fatigue in additively manufactured metals

https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/files/213358067/1_s2.0_S0264127519305957_main.pdf

Wire + Arc Additively Manufactured Inconel 718: Effect of post-deposition heat treatments on microstructure and tensile properties

https://research.birmingham.ac.uk/portal/files/21700809/Ding_et_al_Electron_microscopy_study_Materials_Characterization_2015.pdf

I. Mitchell

Papers

Electron microscopy study of direct laser deposited IN718