The extreme processing conditions of metal additive manufacturing create inhomogeneous materials that can include intense localized compositional gradients, elongated microstructures, highly anisotropic local and macroscopic stresses that approach the flow stress, and unexpected crystalline phases.  This research will use state-of-the-art materials characterization capabilities to correlate local microstructures (before and after post-build thermal-mechanical processing) with location-specific, in situ thermal measurements during the build process.  Material characterization includes SEM and TEM methods, lab and synchrotron X-ray diffraction, DSC, dilatometry, synchrotron X-ray and neutron residual stress measurements at multiple length scales, and synchrotron ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering.  Correlations will also be made between microstructure and materials property measurements (hardness, tensile, fatigue, etc.)

see: www.nist.gov/ambench

key words

Additive manufacturing; Metals; Materials characterization; SEM; TEM; XRD; SAXS; DSC; Residual stress

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral applicants