LPBF of Functionally Graded Materials: Challenges and Solutions in Bonding IN718 and SS316L

Due to its potential to create components with improved performance compared to those made with single powder material, the functionally graded materials (FGMs) are produced by LPBF. This study investigates the compatibility of FGMs composed of IN718 and SS316 produced via LPBF. The FGMs were analyzed to elaborate on the processing parameters and their influence on the interface layers using various characterization techniques to assess their structural and mechanical properties. The work will discuss the development of a thermal model that is validated using in-situ experimental data to study residual stresses. The results indicate that the LPBF process successfully produced FGMs with a smooth transition between IN718 and SS316, exhibiting favorable structural and mechanical properties suitable for aerospace engineering applications.