Although the observation of wetting phenomena has a long history both in science and in everyday life, nanoscale wetting properties leave open a multitude of questions. Improving the properties of DED products through reinforcement with nanoparticles (NPs) is attractive. Due to the involved NPs, the wetting behaviour of the deposition differs from that in macroscales. Modelling and validation of a laser-based DED process reinforced with NPs in view of the effect of wetting is demonstrated in this study. A metal wire reinforced with initially uniform nanoparticle distribution is melted by laser light and deposit on a substrate. Heating of the wire by laser light is tackled using a volumetric heat source model. A three-phase melting and solidification simulation methodology is established in a continuum approach. Nanoparticles are treated in the Lagrangian framework. Effect of nanoparticle reinforcement on the wetting behaviour of melt bead during the printing process is investigated numerically, taking into account the influence of nanoparticles on contact angle and surface tension. Simulation results are compared with the experimental deposition of Ti6Al4V wires through dimensional analysis of the tracks in confocal microscopy.

Moderated by: Hani Henein / Mark Jolly