Additive Manufacturing (AM) has revolutionized manufacturing processes by enabling the realization of custom products with intricate geometric features that were either too complex or even intractable for subtractive manufacturing processes. Yet, functional surfaces generated in AM have to be often finish machined because of their relatively inferior roughness. The first phase of this research worked around this limitation by tailoring the topography of an AM surface in-process to entail textures that further enhance certain functionalities in a process called Additive Texturing (AT).
In this context, the Selective Laser Melting (SLM) process ability to realize intricate surface microfeatures was explored experimentally, evaluating its geometrical limitations. Utilizing such limitations, various patterns comprising pillars, channels, and re-entrant structures were printed to control the wetting behaviour of SLM stainless steel. AT's efficacy is demonstrated in its capability to generate hydrophobic AM surfaces with water contact angles exceeding 140°. Similarly, other texturing patterns comprising dimples, linear, V-shaped, and X-shaped grooves were investigated to tailor the tribological response of textured surfaces under dry sliding conditions. Evidently, a specific wear rate and coefficient of friction reduction of 80% and 60%, respectively, demonstrated another potential for AT.
The undesirable tensile Residual Stresses (RS) that inevitably accumulate during the SLM process's rapid heating and cooling cycles were investigated in the second phase of this research. Laser Peening (LP) was utilized to post-process the printed samples to eliminate the initial tensile RS and induce near 500 Mpa compressive RS. Moreover, the LP parameters were explored and optimized to enhance RS, surface roughness, hardness, and wear resistance. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/27055 |
| Date | January 2021 |
| Creators | Mekhiel, Sameh |
| Contributors | Elbestawi, MA, Koshy, Philip, Mechanical Engineering |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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