Characterization of laser powder bed fusion metal samples using Bragg edge neutron transmission analysis

Bragg edge neutron transmission analysis is a non-destructive technique that can be used for the investigation of properties of crystalline solids, such as microstructure, texture, strain or defects. In this work, Bragg edge imaging is applied to characterize additively manufactured metal samples produced via powder bed fusion–laser-based, featuring an innovative star-shaped geometry. This process can induce microstructural inhomogeneities within the material, thereby compromising the mechanical integrity of the final component. For this reason, a comprehensive understanding of the manufacturing process is essential to identify optimal operational parameters. Because of the lack of non-invasive techniques allowing an in-depth study of the microstructure of these samples, Bragg edge imaging is applied for providing detailed quantitative information on the manufacturing process. In this context, the final aim of this work is to investigate how the production process influences the final manufactured components. To study these effects, three different additively manufactured samples made of different metal alloys have been characterized by Bragg edge analysis. Characterization of elastic lattice strain, density of crystallographic defects and texture reveals significant discrepancies between the samples and their respective starting powders. These findings elucidate the various effects induced by the manufacturing process, which alters the crystalline structure of the metal and introduces anisotropy, potentially leading to mechanical failure of the components.