Review of selective laser melting: Materials and applications

Journal Article · Tue Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Applied Physics Reviews

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4935926· OSTI ID:22482275

Yap, C. Y., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[1]; Energy Research Institute @ NTU, Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Block S2 - B3a - 01, Singapore 639798 ^[2]; Chua, C. K., E-mail: [e-mail]; Liu, Z. H., E-mail: [e-mail]; Zhang, D. Q., E-mail: [e-mail]; Loh, L. E., E-mail: [e-mail]; Sing, S. L., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[1]; Dong, Z. L., E-mail: [e-mail] ^[3]

---

1. Singapore Centre for 3D Printing, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Block N3.1 - B2c - 01, Singapore 639798 (Singapore)
2. (Singapore)
3. School of Materials Science & Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Block N4.1, Singapore 639798 (Singapore)

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is a particular rapid prototyping, 3D printing, or Additive Manufacturing (AM) technique designed to use high power-density laser to melt and fuse metallic powders. A component is built by selectively melting and fusing powders within and between layers. The SLM technique is also commonly known as direct selective laser sintering, LaserCusing, and direct metal laser sintering, and this technique has been proven to produce near net-shape parts up to 99.9% relative density. This enables the process to build near full density functional parts and has viable economic benefits. Recent developments of fibre optics and high-power laser have also enabled SLM to process different metallic materials, such as copper, aluminium, and tungsten. Similarly, this has also opened up research opportunities in SLM of ceramic and composite materials. The review presents the SLM process and some of the common physical phenomena associated with this AM technology. It then focuses on the following areas: (a) applications of SLM materials and (b) mechanical properties of SLM parts achieved in research publications. The review is not meant to put a ceiling on the capabilities of the SLM process but to enable readers to have an overview on the material properties achieved by the SLM process so far. Trends in research of SLM are also elaborated in the last section.

• OSTI ID: 22482275
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Reviews, Vol. 2, Issue 4; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1931-9401
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALUMINIUM
CERAMICS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
COPPER
DENSITY FUNCTIONAL METHOD
DESIGN
FIBERS
LASERS
LAYERS
MANUFACTURING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MELTING
OPTICS
POWDERS
POWER DENSITY
SCANNING LIGHT MICROSCOPY
SINTERING
TUNGSTEN