Influence of post-processing heat treatment on nanoscale mechanical properties of laser powder bed fused Inconel 625
摘要
This study investigates the effect of thermal aging (200–400 h at 650 °C) on the nanoindentation behaviour of Laser Powder Bed Fused (LPBF) Inconel 625. A Berkovich indentation mapping (5000–7500 µN) was conducted at multiple locations under controlled loads to measure nano-hardness and modulus. The loading profile with a peak load of 7000 µN and a dwell time of 5 s yielded consistent results as per the ISE (Indentation Size Effect). The results show a progressive increase in nano-hardness from 5.87 to 7.42 GPa with aging time. In contrast, the reduced modulus exhibited an initial increase followed by saturation, indicating a plastic response with minimal impact on elastic stiffness during the aging conditions adopted. Load displacement curves displayed serrated flow behaviour, characteristic of dynamic strain aging.