Study on plasma assisted directed energy deposition of additive manufacturing

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K14866
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 18020:Manufacturing and production engineering-related
• Research Institution: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Itagaki Hirotomo 国立研究開発法人産業技術総合研究所, エレクトロニクス・製造領域, 研究員 (00793184)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: プラズマ / 積層造形 / 窒化 / 粉体加工 / 超硬金属

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We developed plasma nozzles with high-frequency discharge and direct current discharge to develop a newly method of additive manufacturing process using a plasma. We verified its plasma generation capability through a plasma generation test. As a result, it was found that plasma could be generated at both nozzles. Furthermore, we conducted a test of multi-layered beads formation using gas atomized powder of titanium alloy and granulated powder of cemented carbide as materials. As a result, the nitrogen concentration in formed multi-layer bead increased significantly. Besides in the test of a cemented carbide, the porosity of the powder itself was reduced in the plasma and the formed multi-layer bead without internal porosity defects was successfully formed. These results demonstrate the applicability of plasma as a technique for imparting surface functionality, such as localized nitrided layer formation, and the applicability of on-process powder processing for AM of cemented carbide.

Free Research Field

プラズマ理工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

プラズマの熱源利用のみならず窒化等表面機能の付与手法として、その最適条件探索や機構解明、および粉体のオンプロセス加工など造形自体高機能化に学術的意義がある。金属積層造形は現在、複雑構造や形状による機能付与等、形状に注目した研究開発がすすめられるが、産業で利用されている部素材や工具等は表面機能を有するものが多く、今後必要な箇所に必要な表面機能を付与する技術が必要になる他、利用可能な材料種が限られるといった課題がある。これに対し、プラズマの活性種生成能力を活用した局所表面機能付与手法や材料粉体のオンプロセス改良手法が開発されることで、積層造形の更なる産業応用につながるという社会的意義がある。