Novel Research on Laser Additive Manufacturing for Metal and Alloy

Dear Colleagues,

Laser additive manufacturing (LAM) has emerged as one of the mainstream additive manufacturing (AM) technologies for processing metals and alloys. Two major LAM  categories, namely laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) and laser-based direct energy deposition (L-DED), are widely adopted in numerous industries, including the aerospace, automotive, biomedical, and marine ones, energy-related sectors, etc. Compared to other metallic AM processes using different heat sources, e.g., electron beams and electric arcs, LAM provides relatively better dimensional accuracy and surface finishing; however, laser beams feature rapid cooling activities during processing. The localized repetitive heating and cooling, as well as associated rapid solidification, during LAM can lead to high thermal stresses and the formation of non-equilibrium phases, resulting in deformation/warping, cracking, and unexpected microstructures as well as properties. These problems pose challenges in the part performance and integrity processed by LAM. Besides the mentioned common problems, specific drawbacks of individual LAM technologies (i.e., the low deposition rate of L-PBF and the relatively low dimensional accuracy of L-DED) also need to be addressed to further expand their application range.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for showcasing recent advances in LAM for metallic materials which match well with the scope of Applied Sciences, featuring novel developments and applications via novel manufacturing techniques.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following topics: new material and alloy development for improved properties or printability, process modification and innovation (i.e., micro L-PBF, field-assisted LAM, etc.), advances in microstructure and property control, stress and deformation management, novel modeling and simulation methods for the prediction of the thermal and stress fields, as well as microstructures and properties, novel post-processing methods, process monitoring and control, and advanced applications of LAM in metallic components.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Xianglong Wang
Dr. Shuai Chang
Prof. Dr. Zhenglong Lei
Guest Editors

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