Collaboration
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, University of Parma, University of Ferrara, Polytechnic of Turin, H2020-DREAM Project.
Activity
New manufacturing technologies based on additive manufacturing (AM) of metal parts are becoming increasingly important in aerospace, automotive and biomedical applications. These technologies, based on the construction of the final part in alayer-by-layer process, offer a series of advantages over conventional production techniques such as efficient use of materials, high flexibility, low cost, production of complex geometries and small volumes in a single step. However, all the AM techniques suffer from several intrinsic problems due to the high thermal gradients and the high cooling rates developed during production, which give rise to thermal stresses, phase segregation phenomena and development of non-equilibrium phases. These phenomena cause microstructural anisotropies that produce anisotropy of the mechanical properties in the final part. In general, post-production thermomechanical treatments are carried out to reduce these anisotropies, which can further modify the material properties.
The research activity at SIMAUis based on the microstructural characterization of the materials produced by AM technologies in order to correlate the microstructure to the macroscopicproperties of the final parts. The research starts from the study of the initial metal powder contamination,in order to follow the entire production process, including any post-production treatment.
The SIMAU research group participate to the H2020-DREAM project, which involves both European university research groups and leading companies in the AM sector worldwide.
