Investigating the Structure, Microstructure, and Texture in Selective Laser-Melted Sterling Silver 925

The evolution of microstructure and texture during selective laser melting (SLM) of silver alloy—sterling silver 925 (AM Ag925) has been investigated and analyzed vis-à-vis cast sterling silver (AC Ag925). The microstructure of AM Ag925 was characterized by a single-phase silver-rich face-centered c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Metallurgical and materials transactions. A, Physical metallurgy and materials science Physical metallurgy and materials science, 2021-12, Vol.52 (12), p.5329-5341
Main Authors: Vikram, R. J., Kollo, L., Prashanth, K. G., Suwas, Satyam
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Characterization and Evaluation of Materials
Chemistry and Materials Science
Copper
Germanium
Grain boundaries
Heat treating
Heat treatment
Laser beam melting
Materials Science
Mechanical properties
Metallic Materials
Microstructure
Morphology
Nanotechnology
Original Research Article
Precipitates
Silver
Solid solutions
Solidification
Sterling
Structural Materials
Surfaces and Interfaces
Texture
Thin Films
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Summary:The evolution of microstructure and texture during selective laser melting (SLM) of silver alloy—sterling silver 925 (AM Ag925) has been investigated and analyzed vis-à-vis cast sterling silver (AC Ag925). The microstructure of AM Ag925 was characterized by a single-phase silver-rich face-centered cubic solid solution with dendritic morphology, along with some locally distributed micro-segregated copper–germanium (Cu–Ge)-rich regions. Each adjacent dendritic feature consists of Ag–Cu-rich and Ag–Ge-rich regions and appears as alternate dark and bright regions. On the other hand, the as-cast AC Ag925 microstructure comprises Ag and Cu phases. Specific heat treatment was employed, which led to an equiaxed microstructure in AM Ag925 with Cu distributing along grain boundaries while the microstructure of AC Ag925 had Cu precipitates inside the matrix. Bulk texture studies revealed that the solidified textures were very weak for AM Ag925, and a random texture is observed. On the other hand, for the AC Ag925 specimens, a typical fiber texture is observed. Both AC Ag925 and AM Ag925 showed significant deviation from 100 solidification texture and influences the mechanical properties.
ISSN:1073-5623
1543-1940
DOI:10.1007/s11661-021-06471-7