The manufacture of a niobium/niobium-silicide-based alloy using direct laser fabrication

The suitability of direct laser fabrication for the manufacture of components made from niobium/niobium-silicide-based materials has been assessed. An alloy with composition Nb–26Ti–22Si–6Cr–3Hf–2Al (at%) was used as the basis for this study. After determining suitable processing parameters, microstructures were assessed and the constituent phases present were determined using optical and analytical scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The effect of annealing on the microstructure was also investigated. The microstructures were compared with those of a cast alloy of similar composition. Relationships between fabrication parameters, such as laser scan speed and substrate to laser focus point distance, and the process efficiency were established.