Effects of On-Line Vortex Cooling on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Wire Arc Additively Manufactured Al-Mg Alloy

A novel on-line vortex cooling powered by low-cost compressed air was proposed to reduce common defects such as low forming precision, coarse grains, and pores caused by heat accumulation in the Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) of aluminum alloy. The impacts of interlayer cooling (IC), substrate cooling (SC), on-line cooling (OL), and natural cooling (NC) processes were compared on the morphology, microstructure, and mechanical properties of as-deposited walls, revealing that the OL process significantly lowers the interlayer temperature and improves forming precision. The high cooling rate produced by the OL process reduced the absorption of hydrogen in the molten pool, lowering porosity. Furthermore, the grains are refined due to the developed undercooling. However, the high cooling rate enhanced the segregation potential of Mg element and raised the content of the beta phase. Conclusively, the maximum tensile strength, elongation, and microhardness of the as-deposited wall are achieved via the OL process, and the fine-grain strengthening mechanism plays an important role in improving mechanical properties. The OL process is cheaper and poses a significant effect; it is highly suitable for the additive manufacturing of complex components compared with other forced cooling processes.