Effect of scanning strategy on the anisotropy in microstructure and properties of Cu-Cr-Zr alloy manufactured by laser powder bed fusion

The anisotropy of microstructure, electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of Cu-Cr-Zr alloys under different scanning strategies were comprehensively investigated. The effect of different scanning strategies on the evolution of the microstructure and properties of Cu-Cr-Zr alloys manufactured by laser powder bed fusion was explored. The microstructure, electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of the specimens exhibited different anisotropy under different scanning strategies. Compared with specimens using the meander scanning strategy, the epitaxially grown columnar grains on the vertical plane of specimens using the chessboard scanning strategy are significantly tortuous. The strength anisotropy of the specimen can be attributed to the combined effect of the anisotropy of the strengthening mechanism and crystallographic texture. The anisotropy of the ductility of the specimen can be attributed to the anisotropy of the deformation mechanism of the grains and the difference in the fracture mechanism. The anisotropy of the electrical conductivity of the specimen can be attributed to the different degrees of lattice distortion.