In situ interlayer hot forging arc-based directed energy deposition of Inconel® 625: process development and microstructure effects

The typical as-built coarse and cube-oriented microstructure of Inconel® 625 parts fabricated via arc-based directed energy deposition (DED) induces anisotropic mechanical behavior, reducing the potential applications of arc-based DEDed Inconel® 625 in critical components. In this sense, the present work aimed to reduce the grain size and texture by applying an in situ interlayer hot forging (HF) combined with post-deposition heat treatments (PDHT). The produced samples were characterized through optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with electron backscatter diffraction, synchrotron X-ray diffraction, and Vickers microhardness. Also, a dedicated deformation tool was designed and optimized via a finite element method model considering the processing conditions and thermal cycle experienced by the material. It is shown that the in situ interlayer deformation induced a thermo-mechanical-affected zone (dynamic recrystallized + remaining deformation, with a height of ≈ 1.2 mm) at the bead top surface, which resulted in thinner aligned grains and lower texture index in relation to as-built DED counterpart. In addition, the effects of solution (1100 °C/ 1 h) and stabilization (980 °C/ 1 h) PDHTs on the Inconel® 625 HF-DEDed parts were also analyzed, which promoted fine and equiaxed static recrystallized grains without cube orientation, comparable to wrought material. Therefore, the HF-DED process significantly refined the typical coarse and highly oriented microstructure of Ni-based superalloys obtained by arc-based DED.