A Comparison of the Structure and Selected Mechanical Properties of Cr/Co Alloys Obtained by Casting and Selective Laser Melting

Selective laser melting (SLM) technologies are becoming increasingly popular. The aim of the work is to compare the metallographic structure, hardness, and selected strength properties of alloys obtained by casting and by SLM, with a particular emphasis on fatigue strength. Twenty Cr/Co alloy bars were made by casting or SLM, and samples of appropriate dimensions were prepared for individual tests. The microstructures of the samples were tested by metallography, and then tested for hardness, impact strength, tensile strength, bending strength, and fatigue strength; they were also subjected to fracture after bending, tensile, fatigue, and impact tests, with the resulting fractures examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Primary dendrites and small amounts of gas bubbles were present in the cast samples ground lengthwise. The SEM samples were more finer grained and uniform. Compared to the casting samples, the SLM samples demonstrated higher hardness, lower mean impact strength and higher tensile strength. The casting samples also displayed lower mean elongation values. The casting samples demonstrated slightly higher fatigue strength. The fractures of the casting samples showed an interdendritic character with clearly visible dendrites at the fracture, while those of the SLM samples were also intergranular, but finer grained. SLM generally results in better strength properties, while casting obtains slightly greater fatigue strength.