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Title: Directed Light Fabrication of Refractory Metals and Alloys

Abstract

This report covers work performed under Order No. FA0000020 AN Contract DE-AC12-76SN00052 for deposition of refractory pure metals and alloys using the Directed Light Fabrication (DLF) process and represents the progress in depositing these materials through September 1998. In extending the DLF process technology to refractory metals for producing fully dense, structurally sound deposits, several problems have become evident. 1. Control of porosity in DLF-deposited refractory metal is difficult because of gases, apparently present in commercially purchased refractory metal powder starting materials. 2. The radiant heat from the molten pool during deposition melts the DLF powder feed nozzle. 3. The high reflectivity of molten refractory metals, at the Nd-YAG laser wavelength (1.06{micro}m), produces damaging back reflections to the optical train and fiber optic delivery system that can terminate DLF processing. 4. The current limits on the maximum available laser power to prevent back reflection damage limit the parameter range available for densification of refractory metals. The work to date concentrated on niobium, W-25Re, and spherodized tungsten. Niobium samples, made from hydride-dehydride powder, had minimal gas porosity and the deposition parameters were optimized; however, test plates were not made at this time. W-25Re samples, containing sodium and potassium from a precipitationmore » process, were made and porosity was a problem for all samples although minimized with some process parameters. Deposits made from potassium reduced tungsten that was plasma spherodized were made with minimized porosity. Results of this work indicate that further gas analysis of starting powders and de-gassing of starting powders and/or gas removal during deposition of refractory metals is required.« less

Authors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
US Department of Energy (US)
OSTI Identifier:
759128
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-99-860
TRN: US0004398
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-36
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 14 May 1999
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; NIOBIUM; POROSITY; REFRACTORY METALS; TUNGSTEN ALLOYS; RHENIUM ALLOYS; FABRICATION

Citation Formats

Fonseca, J C, Lewis, G K, Dickerson, P G, and Nemec, R B. Directed Light Fabrication of Refractory Metals and Alloys. United States: N. p., 1999. Web. doi:10.2172/759128.
Fonseca, J C, Lewis, G K, Dickerson, P G, & Nemec, R B. Directed Light Fabrication of Refractory Metals and Alloys. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/759128
Fonseca, J C, Lewis, G K, Dickerson, P G, and Nemec, R B. 1999. "Directed Light Fabrication of Refractory Metals and Alloys". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/759128. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/759128.
@article{osti_759128,
title = {Directed Light Fabrication of Refractory Metals and Alloys},
author = {Fonseca, J C and Lewis, G K and Dickerson, P G and Nemec, R B},
abstractNote = {This report covers work performed under Order No. FA0000020 AN Contract DE-AC12-76SN00052 for deposition of refractory pure metals and alloys using the Directed Light Fabrication (DLF) process and represents the progress in depositing these materials through September 1998. In extending the DLF process technology to refractory metals for producing fully dense, structurally sound deposits, several problems have become evident. 1. Control of porosity in DLF-deposited refractory metal is difficult because of gases, apparently present in commercially purchased refractory metal powder starting materials. 2. The radiant heat from the molten pool during deposition melts the DLF powder feed nozzle. 3. The high reflectivity of molten refractory metals, at the Nd-YAG laser wavelength (1.06{micro}m), produces damaging back reflections to the optical train and fiber optic delivery system that can terminate DLF processing. 4. The current limits on the maximum available laser power to prevent back reflection damage limit the parameter range available for densification of refractory metals. The work to date concentrated on niobium, W-25Re, and spherodized tungsten. Niobium samples, made from hydride-dehydride powder, had minimal gas porosity and the deposition parameters were optimized; however, test plates were not made at this time. W-25Re samples, containing sodium and potassium from a precipitation process, were made and porosity was a problem for all samples although minimized with some process parameters. Deposits made from potassium reduced tungsten that was plasma spherodized were made with minimized porosity. Results of this work indicate that further gas analysis of starting powders and de-gassing of starting powders and/or gas removal during deposition of refractory metals is required.},
doi = {10.2172/759128},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/759128}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri May 14 00:00:00 EDT 1999},
month = {Fri May 14 00:00:00 EDT 1999}
}