Effect of Fe addition on heat-resistant aluminum alloys produced by selective laser melting

The effect of Fe addition on the high-temperature mechanical properties of heat-resistant aluminum alloys produced by selective laser melting (SLM) was investigated in relation to the alloy microstructures. Fe is generally detrimental to the properties of cast aluminum alloys; however, we found that Fe-containing alloys produced by SLM had improved high-temperature strength and good ductility. Microstructural observations revealed that the increase in the high-temperature strength of the alloys was due to the dispersion of fine rod-shaped Fe-Si-Ni particles unique to the SLM material instead of the cell-like structure of eutectic Si.