Surface modification of additively manufactured gamma titanium aluminide hardware

A major part of additive manufacturing focuses on the fabrication of metallic parts in different fields of applications. Examples include components for jet engines and turbines and also implants in the medical sector. Titanium alloys represent a material group which is used cross-sectoral in a large number of applications. The present paper addresses the titanium aluminides in particular. These materials have a low density in combination with a comparatively high-temperature resistance [G. Sauthoff, Intermetallics (Wiley-VCH Verlag, Weinheim, Germany, 2008)]. Nevertheless, the laser material processing is rather challenging because of their distinct tendency to lamellar interface cracking. This requires tailored processing strategies and equipment [C. Leyens et al., in Ti-2015: The 13th World Conference on Titanium, Symposium 5. Intermetallics and MMCs, 16–20 August 2015, San Diego, CA (The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, Pittsburgh, PA, 2016)]. This work focusses on tailored processing of titanium aluminides with focus on the process-dependent surface characteristics. This includes the as-built status for powder bed processing and direct laser metal deposition but also the surface modification via post and/or advanced machining. Finally, comprehensive characterization is performed using destructive as well as nondestructive testing methods. The latter includes 3D scanning, computed tomography, microscopic analysis, and, in particular, surface roughness measurements.