Influence of oxygen in the production chain of Cu–Ti-based metallic glasses via laser powder bed fusion

Abstract

Laser powder bed fusion of metals (PBF-LB/M) is advantageous for manufacturing bulk metallic glasses with size and geometrical freedom. However, the oxygen uptake along the production chain can negatively impact the generation of high-quality, amorphous parts. In this context, Cu–Ti-based alloys were gas-atomised and additively manufactured using commercial- (CP) and high-purity (HP) feedstocks. The oxygen absorption in each processing step was tracked and related to the amorphous phase formation and glass-forming ability (GFA) of alloys. Results show an increasing oxygen absorption, considerably influenced by the starting feedstock, especially for CP. In HP material, the most contribution is inherent from the powder oxygen content. Results reveal the lack of influence of the oxygen content in the GFA. TEM analysis of commercial powder and PBF-LB/M sample show uniform and featureless micrographs, displaying the absence of oxygen-induced nucleation. The present contribution enhances the qualification and economic processability of amorphous metals by PBF-LB/M.