The effects of cooling via compressed air on geometrical, mechanical and microstructural properties of 600 MPa high strength steel walls manufactured by CMT WAAM

This study investigates the influence of interpass cooling strategies, specifically compressed air cooling (CAC) and free cooling (FC), on the characteristics of high-strength steel walls fabricated using the cold metal transfer wire arc additive manufacturing (CMT-WAAM) process. The research focuses on 600 MPa high-strength steel wire, evaluating the resulting geometrical, microstructural, and mechanical properties. The experimental setup utilized a standard compressed air gun for CAC, without requiring specialized shielding gas or tooling. Geometrically, walls produced with FC exhibited increased width and height, alongside significantly higher sidewall roughness compared to CAC-treated walls. Microstructural analysis revealed that the cooling rate critically impacted phase formation; CAC promoted the development of lower bainite and

martensite/austenite (M/A) phases. Conversely, FC led to the formation of upper bainite and an elevated inclusion density. These microstructural variations directly correlated with mechanical performance. CAC significantly enhanced the average yield strength by 124% and tensile strength by 47%, in addition to improving hardness. The findings underscore the decisive role of controlled interpass cooling in optimizing the material properties of WAAM-produced high-strength steel components.

Message: Hi FE, I need help with “The effects of cooling via compressed air on geometrical, mechanical and microstructural properties of 600 MPa high strength steel walls manufactured by CMT WAAM” in “Mechanical Engineering”