Heat treatment of Inconel 718 produced by selective laser melting: Microstructure and mechanical properties

Inconel 718 (IN718) samples have been produced by selective laser melting (SLM). The effects of solution temperature, time and cooling rate as well as aging hardening on the microstructure and mechanical properties of SLMed IN718 have been studied. It is found that the as-fabricated IN718 is characterized with fine cellular dendrites with Laves phase precipitating in the subgrain boundaries, which is profoundly different from cast and wrought materials and needs different heat treatment schedules. The relationship between the minimum solution time and solution temperature is established and it provides a basis for the selection of solution treatment parameters. In addition, decreasing the cooling rate of solution treatment will contribute to the precipitation of strengthening phases. The precipitation temperatures of γ′ and γ″ are about the same for SLMed and wrought IN718, but the former has a faster aging response. The tensile properties of SLMed IN718 can be tuned in a large range by properly varying the microstructure. The highest elongation of 39.1% can be obtained after solution treatment (water quenching) without aging treatment and the highest yield and tensile strength (1374/1545 MPa) can be obtained after the direct aging treatment. The match of strength and ductility is able to be tailored by controlling the amount of strengthening phases, which can be realized by adjusting the cooling rate of solution treatment and aging time.