Current trends in electron beam and laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing of copper alloys: Composition, defects, properties, and challenges

Currently, laser and electron beam powder bed fusion (L/E-PBF) are prevalent in metal additive manufacturing (AM), demonstrating exceptional potential for producing copper (Cu) alloy components indispensable for numerous aerospace, automotive, energy, and marine applications. However, despite ground...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bhaskaranand Bhatt, Alessandra Martucci, Sara Biamino, Daniele Ugues, Federica Bondioli, Laura Montanaro, Mariangela Lombardi, Paolo Fino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Materials & Design
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525001625
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850182816706330624
author Bhaskaranand Bhatt
Alessandra Martucci
Sara Biamino
Daniele Ugues
Federica Bondioli
Laura Montanaro
Mariangela Lombardi
Paolo Fino
author_facet Bhaskaranand Bhatt
Alessandra Martucci
Sara Biamino
Daniele Ugues
Federica Bondioli
Laura Montanaro
Mariangela Lombardi
Paolo Fino
author_sort Bhaskaranand Bhatt
collection DOAJ
description Currently, laser and electron beam powder bed fusion (L/E-PBF) are prevalent in metal additive manufacturing (AM), demonstrating exceptional potential for producing copper (Cu) alloy components indispensable for numerous aerospace, automotive, energy, and marine applications. However, despite groundbreaking advances in metal AM, Cu alloys remain underdeveloped. This comprehensive review highlights the unremitting efforts to develop superior and bespoke L/E-PBF Cu alloy parts. Initially, roadblocks to Cu alloy printability are identified, along with solutions to surmount them, followed by feedstock development in the context of L/E-PBF. An extensive process-induced defect analysis is presented to assess the impact of powder feedstock characteristics, process parameters, and heat treatments. Furthermore, the mechanical, electrical, corrosion, and tribological properties of L/E-PBF-fabricated Cu alloy parts are elaborated to elucidate the nexus among material-microstructure-performance. In addition, this review delves into various strengthening mechanisms, the significance of post-processing heat treatment in stabilising non-equilibrium microstructures, and its influence on the material-property space. The discussion then extends to the importance of modelling for comprehending complex melt pool dynamics. Finally, the review uncovers lacunas and presents critical future research aspects to boost the technological readiness of L/E-PBF Cu alloys/composites for accelerated adoption.
format Article
id doaj-art-c2fc1bda3eeb4ae8a8c8a54ea609e986
institution OA Journals
issn 0264-1275
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Materials & Design
spelling doaj-art-c2fc1bda3eeb4ae8a8c8a54ea609e9862025-08-20T02:17:33ZengElsevierMaterials & Design0264-12752025-05-0125311374210.1016/j.matdes.2025.113742Current trends in electron beam and laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing of copper alloys: Composition, defects, properties, and challengesBhaskaranand Bhatt0Alessandra Martucci1Sara Biamino2Daniele Ugues3Federica Bondioli4Laura Montanaro5Mariangela Lombardi6Paolo Fino7Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico Di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino 10129, Italy; Corresponding authors at: Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico Di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino 10129, Italy (M. Lombardi).Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico Di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino 10129, ItalyDepartment of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico Di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino 10129, Italy; Center of Integrated Additive Manufacturing (IAM), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Castelfidardo, 51, 10138 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico Di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino 10129, Italy; Center of Integrated Additive Manufacturing (IAM), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Castelfidardo, 51, 10138 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico Di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino 10129, Italy; Center of Integrated Additive Manufacturing (IAM), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Castelfidardo, 51, 10138 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico Di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino 10129, Italy; Center of Integrated Additive Manufacturing (IAM), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Castelfidardo, 51, 10138 Torino, ItalyDepartment of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico Di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino 10129, Italy; Center of Integrated Additive Manufacturing (IAM), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Castelfidardo, 51, 10138 Torino, Italy; Corresponding authors at: Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico Di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino 10129, Italy (M. Lombardi).Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico Di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, Torino 10129, Italy; Center of Integrated Additive Manufacturing (IAM), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Castelfidardo, 51, 10138 Torino, ItalyCurrently, laser and electron beam powder bed fusion (L/E-PBF) are prevalent in metal additive manufacturing (AM), demonstrating exceptional potential for producing copper (Cu) alloy components indispensable for numerous aerospace, automotive, energy, and marine applications. However, despite groundbreaking advances in metal AM, Cu alloys remain underdeveloped. This comprehensive review highlights the unremitting efforts to develop superior and bespoke L/E-PBF Cu alloy parts. Initially, roadblocks to Cu alloy printability are identified, along with solutions to surmount them, followed by feedstock development in the context of L/E-PBF. An extensive process-induced defect analysis is presented to assess the impact of powder feedstock characteristics, process parameters, and heat treatments. Furthermore, the mechanical, electrical, corrosion, and tribological properties of L/E-PBF-fabricated Cu alloy parts are elaborated to elucidate the nexus among material-microstructure-performance. In addition, this review delves into various strengthening mechanisms, the significance of post-processing heat treatment in stabilising non-equilibrium microstructures, and its influence on the material-property space. The discussion then extends to the importance of modelling for comprehending complex melt pool dynamics. Finally, the review uncovers lacunas and presents critical future research aspects to boost the technological readiness of L/E-PBF Cu alloys/composites for accelerated adoption.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525001625Additive manufacturing reviewProcess parametersPowder bed fusionCopper alloysDefectsPost processing heat treatments
spellingShingle Bhaskaranand Bhatt
Alessandra Martucci
Sara Biamino
Daniele Ugues
Federica Bondioli
Laura Montanaro
Mariangela Lombardi
Paolo Fino
Current trends in electron beam and laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing of copper alloys: Composition, defects, properties, and challenges
Materials & Design
Additive manufacturing review
Process parameters
Powder bed fusion
Copper alloys
Defects
Post processing heat treatments
title Current trends in electron beam and laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing of copper alloys: Composition, defects, properties, and challenges
title_full Current trends in electron beam and laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing of copper alloys: Composition, defects, properties, and challenges
title_fullStr Current trends in electron beam and laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing of copper alloys: Composition, defects, properties, and challenges
title_full_unstemmed Current trends in electron beam and laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing of copper alloys: Composition, defects, properties, and challenges
title_short Current trends in electron beam and laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing of copper alloys: Composition, defects, properties, and challenges
title_sort current trends in electron beam and laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing of copper alloys composition defects properties and challenges
topic Additive manufacturing review
Process parameters
Powder bed fusion
Copper alloys
Defects
Post processing heat treatments
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525001625
work_keys_str_mv AT bhaskaranandbhatt currenttrendsinelectronbeamandlaserpowderbedfusionadditivemanufacturingofcopperalloyscompositiondefectspropertiesandchallenges
AT alessandramartucci currenttrendsinelectronbeamandlaserpowderbedfusionadditivemanufacturingofcopperalloyscompositiondefectspropertiesandchallenges
AT sarabiamino currenttrendsinelectronbeamandlaserpowderbedfusionadditivemanufacturingofcopperalloyscompositiondefectspropertiesandchallenges
AT danieleugues currenttrendsinelectronbeamandlaserpowderbedfusionadditivemanufacturingofcopperalloyscompositiondefectspropertiesandchallenges
AT federicabondioli currenttrendsinelectronbeamandlaserpowderbedfusionadditivemanufacturingofcopperalloyscompositiondefectspropertiesandchallenges
AT lauramontanaro currenttrendsinelectronbeamandlaserpowderbedfusionadditivemanufacturingofcopperalloyscompositiondefectspropertiesandchallenges
AT mariangelalombardi currenttrendsinelectronbeamandlaserpowderbedfusionadditivemanufacturingofcopperalloyscompositiondefectspropertiesandchallenges
AT paolofino currenttrendsinelectronbeamandlaserpowderbedfusionadditivemanufacturingofcopperalloyscompositiondefectspropertiesandchallenges