Direct evidence of TiC nanoparticle-induced nucleation in laser powder bed fused AlSi10Mg

Felix N. Lomo; Duyao Zhang; Dong Qiu; Ihsan Murat Kuşoğlu; Anna R. Ziefuss; Stephan Barcikowski; Matthew R. Field; Mark A. Easton

doi:10.1016/j.scriptamat.2025.117143

Direct evidence of TiC nanoparticle-induced nucleation in laser powder bed fused AlSi10Mg

Felix N. Lomo, Duyao Zhang, Dong Qiu, Ihsan Murat Kuşoğlu, Anna R. Ziefuss, Stephan Barcikowski, Matthew R. Field, Mark A. Easton

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Grain refinement in AlSi10Mg fabricated by laser powder bed fusion was investigated via nano-TiC addition. Electron backscatter diffraction and scanning electron microscope analyses reveal that a 0.6 wt% nano-TiC addition reduces the average grain size by ∼71 %, promoting predominantly equiaxed morphologies while suppressing columnar growth. Transmission Kikuchi diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses show that TiC nanoparticle clusters are commonly situated at grain centres, suggesting a potential cluster-mediated mechanism, whereas nucleation is linked to individual TiC particles that exhibit favourable orientation relationships with the Al matrix. Two plausible mechanisms—single-particle activation within clusters and cluster-mediated nucleation—likely operate concurrently, with particle pushing–engulfment dynamics explaining redistribution of TiC nanoparticles to interdendritic boundaries. These findings highlight the interplay of nanoparticle size, crystallography, and local solidification conditions in driving robust grain refinement under additive manufacturing.

Original language	English
Article number	117143
Journal	Scripta Materialia
Volume	274
Early online date	17 Dec 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2025.117143
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 17 Dec 2025
Externally published	Yes

Funding

The authors acknowledge the support of the ARC-DECRA grant (Grant number: DE210101503) and the ARC Discovery grant (Grant number: DP220101501).The authors also acknowledge the facilities, and the scientific and technical assistance of the RMIT Microscopy & Microanalysis Facility (RMMF), a linked laboratory of Microscopy Australia, enabled by NCRIS. The authors also acknowledge the SP2122 program with DFG. The authors also acknowledge the support from the Australia–Germany Joint Research Cooperation Scheme (UA-DAAD, No. 57751315).

Keywords

Additive manufacturing
Aluminium alloys
Grain refinement
Nanoparticles

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Materials Science
Condensed Matter Physics
Mechanics of Materials
Mechanical Engineering
Metals and Alloys

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10.1016/j.scriptamat.2025.117143Licence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{ab18287b0c3e495aa10f32794fc80e46,

title = "Direct evidence of TiC nanoparticle-induced nucleation in laser powder bed fused AlSi10Mg",

abstract = "Grain refinement in AlSi10Mg fabricated by laser powder bed fusion was investigated via nano-TiC addition. Electron backscatter diffraction and scanning electron microscope analyses reveal that a 0.6 wt\% nano-TiC addition reduces the average grain size by ∼71 \%, promoting predominantly equiaxed morphologies while suppressing columnar growth. Transmission Kikuchi diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses show that TiC nanoparticle clusters are commonly situated at grain centres, suggesting a potential cluster-mediated mechanism, whereas nucleation is linked to individual TiC particles that exhibit favourable orientation relationships with the Al matrix. Two plausible mechanisms—single-particle activation within clusters and cluster-mediated nucleation—likely operate concurrently, with particle pushing–engulfment dynamics explaining redistribution of TiC nanoparticles to interdendritic boundaries. These findings highlight the interplay of nanoparticle size, crystallography, and local solidification conditions in driving robust grain refinement under additive manufacturing.",

keywords = "Additive manufacturing, Aluminium alloys, Grain refinement, Nanoparticles",

author = "Lomo, \{Felix N.\} and Duyao Zhang and Dong Qiu and Ku{\c s}oğlu, \{Ihsan Murat\} and Ziefuss, \{Anna R.\} and Stephan Barcikowski and Field, \{Matthew R.\} and Easton, \{Mark A.\}",

year = "2025",

month = dec,

day = "17",

doi = "10.1016/j.scriptamat.2025.117143",

language = "English",

volume = "274",

journal = "Scripta Materialia",

issn = "1359-6462",

publisher = "Acta Materialia Inc",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Direct evidence of TiC nanoparticle-induced nucleation in laser powder bed fused AlSi10Mg

AU - Lomo, Felix N.

AU - Zhang, Duyao

AU - Qiu, Dong

AU - Kuşoğlu, Ihsan Murat

AU - Ziefuss, Anna R.

AU - Barcikowski, Stephan

AU - Field, Matthew R.

AU - Easton, Mark A.

PY - 2025/12/17

Y1 - 2025/12/17

N2 - Grain refinement in AlSi10Mg fabricated by laser powder bed fusion was investigated via nano-TiC addition. Electron backscatter diffraction and scanning electron microscope analyses reveal that a 0.6 wt% nano-TiC addition reduces the average grain size by ∼71 %, promoting predominantly equiaxed morphologies while suppressing columnar growth. Transmission Kikuchi diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses show that TiC nanoparticle clusters are commonly situated at grain centres, suggesting a potential cluster-mediated mechanism, whereas nucleation is linked to individual TiC particles that exhibit favourable orientation relationships with the Al matrix. Two plausible mechanisms—single-particle activation within clusters and cluster-mediated nucleation—likely operate concurrently, with particle pushing–engulfment dynamics explaining redistribution of TiC nanoparticles to interdendritic boundaries. These findings highlight the interplay of nanoparticle size, crystallography, and local solidification conditions in driving robust grain refinement under additive manufacturing.

AB - Grain refinement in AlSi10Mg fabricated by laser powder bed fusion was investigated via nano-TiC addition. Electron backscatter diffraction and scanning electron microscope analyses reveal that a 0.6 wt% nano-TiC addition reduces the average grain size by ∼71 %, promoting predominantly equiaxed morphologies while suppressing columnar growth. Transmission Kikuchi diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses show that TiC nanoparticle clusters are commonly situated at grain centres, suggesting a potential cluster-mediated mechanism, whereas nucleation is linked to individual TiC particles that exhibit favourable orientation relationships with the Al matrix. Two plausible mechanisms—single-particle activation within clusters and cluster-mediated nucleation—likely operate concurrently, with particle pushing–engulfment dynamics explaining redistribution of TiC nanoparticles to interdendritic boundaries. These findings highlight the interplay of nanoparticle size, crystallography, and local solidification conditions in driving robust grain refinement under additive manufacturing.

KW - Additive manufacturing

KW - Aluminium alloys

KW - Grain refinement

KW - Nanoparticles

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105024708200

U2 - 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2025.117143

DO - 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2025.117143

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105024708200

SN - 1359-6462

VL - 274

JO - Scripta Materialia

JF - Scripta Materialia

M1 - 117143

ER -

Direct evidence of TiC nanoparticle-induced nucleation in laser powder bed fused AlSi10Mg

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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