Characteristics of Biometallic Alloy to Additive Manufacturing Using Selective Laser Melting Technology

Biomaterial powders are in high development due to expansion of additive manufacturing (AM) processes. Selective laser melting (SLM) is a particular AM technology, which completely melts a powder bed layer by laser beam. Investigations of appropriated physical properties of feedstock (powder alloy) were the aim of this study. Cobalt-chromium-molybdenum (Co-Cr-Mo) alloy was used to overview of gas-atomized powder properties in different granulometric ranges (D1 12 19 μm, D2 20 46 μm and D3 76 106 μm), as their: physical, chemical properties and thermal analysis. SLM manufactured standard tensile specimens of usually granulometric range powder size provided mechanical, chemical and thermal properties of biocompatible Co-Cr-Mo alloy. The physical properties showed that powders in the range of 20 to 50 μm provide a better flow ability and packed density, which are relevant characteristics to SLM processing. Manufacturing by SLM process provided suitable mechanical properties in the health area, as well as, maintained the biocompatible properties of the Co-Cr-Mo alloy.


Introduction
Biocompatibility properties of Co-Cr alloys provided to these super alloys a wide range of application in the health area [1].Associated with high wear and adequate corrosion resistances, medical components were widely produced by conventional techniques, as casting and cold or hot forming followed by posting DOI: 10.4236/jbnb.2018.9100890 Journal of Biomaterials and Nanobiotechnology process (milling and thermal treatments) [2].AM processes are routes of increasing development which save and waste time, material and costs during parts fabrications.
The selective laser melting (SLM) is a technology that can manufacture 3D components by laser beam action that completely melts a powder bed layer until the final geometry.Traditional SLM machines have a maximum laser power of 400 W with laser focus diameter of 100 μm can be provided by a source of Ytterbium fiber.SLM process occurs layer by layer using a feedstock as a metal powder that is stored in a container that may be the distributor of powder (deposited by gravity), which turn to uniform the powder layer (between 20 to 100 μm) on the build platform [3].
A relevant feature in the AM processes which may influence the mechanical properties of parts manufactured is the material characteristics (powder).The metal powder must present specific characteristics of: size, shape, granulometric distribution and physical properties (flowability and packing).Powder bed fusion methods can be employed with different granulometric powders sizes [4] [5] [6].
In the process SLM is notable the use of gas-atomized powders, has better physical characteristics of powders processed than water atomization.Several authors describe the performance SLM parts using powders alloys at the range of 20 to 50 μm [4] [5].The system using electron beam source, as know by electron beam melting (EBM) is widely developing with particles of 76 to 106 μm.The effects and influence of the powder reused on manufactured parts is the subject of many discussions.This topic is relevant in the EBM (Electron Beam Melting) process using Ti-alloys part off by the aggregate cost of manufactured parts [5] [6] [7].
The production of metal components by laser melting was promising since it allows the manufacture of customized components and your higher final physical properties when compared to conventional techniques [8] [9].There is an important knowledge to understand the powder properties, to correlation with the dimensional, mechanical and microstructural characterization in the consolidation of specimens with this technology, as reported recently [8] [9] [10].
The aim of this study is to analyse the physical characteristics of powders in different granulometric ranges and to point out the factors that influence the properties of the powders, in order to reveal the better granulometric range for the SLM process.The study primarily focuses on the analyses physical characteristics of ASTM F75 powders.Powders characteristics as a granulometric size, particle format, flow rate, apparent, tap, theoretical and helium pycnometry densities were evaluated.SLM processing standard specimens to evaluated mechanical properties and thermal stability of biocompatible Co-Cr-Mo alloy.and meets the ASTM 75 [11].

Powder Characterization
Several physical properties of gas-atomized powders were obtained such as flow time, apparent density and tap density, respectively according to ASTM B212 [12], ASTM B213 [13] and ASTM B527 [14].The particle size distribution was performed using a particular analyser by laser scattering (Cilas-Model 1064).The The hardness of the powders in relation to the granulometric range from the gas atomization process, micro hardness measurements were performed on Co-Cr-Mo powder samples.The micro hardness tests were performed using a Fischerscope HM2000 equipment with a load of 100,000 mN (micro Newton) for 10 seconds.

Sample Consolidation and Analysis
The consolidation of SLM samples was carried out by SLM Solutions™ using a SLM ® 280 HL machine with a single Ytterbium laser beam (maximum power 400 W).SLM processing used the D2 powder at the distribution size of 20 to 46 µm.
The building consolidation of specimens was parallel of laser bean and performed using as parameters: layer thickness of 30 μm and diameter of laser beam of 76 µm.Others consolidation parameters were previously pre-selection by manufacturer.
To evaluate the viability of cell growth in the Co-Cr-Mo alloy after the SLM consolidation processes was performed the cytotoxicity analysis, according to ISO 10993-5 [15].This toxic effect was analysed by quantitative measurement of cell death, inhibition of cell growth and among caused by other effects.

Feedstock Material
The chemical composition by X-ray fluorescence and LECO, as the comparison with the SLM samples manufactured by D2 powder (granulometric size of 20 -46 μm) given in the Table 1.The results confirm the chemical composition established accordance with the tolerances of standard ASTM F75 [11].The micro hardness of powders samples showed that the powder D3 is superior to the result of D2 powder.At the case of D1 powder has a very fine size, the micro hardness cannot be measured.The increment of particle hardness stay associated with the granulometry size and the solidification rate in the gas atomization process.The coarse powder during the fall into the cooling column of atomizer has a higher cooling rate than finer particles.Consequentially, the higher solidification rate will be results in superior hardness values [20].
According to the physical characteristics it was verified that granulometric sizes of 20 to 46 µm (D2 powder) can result in better packing and further powder layer densities around 46% of theoretical density with good flow rate.These characteristics allow better requirements for powder utilized in selective laser melting technology.

Biocompatible Result
The result of the cytotoxicity analysis for the processed samples is shown in Figure 4.According to the cytotoxicity assay with relation to the pure extract, without dilution, the samples processed by selective laser melting showed no toxicity.Cytotoxicity assay of Co-Cr-Mo alloy appointed that manufacture SLM specimens can guarantee as a toxic safe material [21].

Mechanical Analysis
Tensile stress-strains curves obtained from the tensile tests of SLM specimens are showed in Figure 5(a).The mechanical properties, such as yield strength (σYS), elongation (El), elastic modulus (E), ultimate tensile strength (σUTS) and    Analyzing the values at Table 3 is possible to verify that in all properties the SLM technique satisfied the type 5 criteria in accordance to standard ISO22674:06 [16].It is verified that the samples have a fragile fracture characteristic, occurring transversal to the tensile stress axis (Figure 5(b)).The fractography (Figure 5(c)) of tensile specimen presented the formation of dimples, which represents a region of greater ductility and toughness.The TRS test results 2501.2 ± 9.7 MPa was satisfactory in accordance to experimental Menguci et al. [22] results.TRS result for a similar composition of Co-Cr-Mo alloy, after the shoot-peened treatment followed by heat treatment for strain relief, result a TRS equal to 2700 ± 25 MPa.

Thermal Analysis
The thermal analysis curves were obtained from dilatometry (SLM sample) and DSC (D2 powder sample) are presented in Figure 6.To understanding the thermal events and correlated with the analysis the heating curves (CTE vs. DSC) were juxtaposed.
As can be seen at the dilatometric analysis is possible to verify the CTE at temperature of 500˚C of samples (SLM 1 and SLM 2) are respectively 15.0 and The DSC curve is possible check in the heating curves the presence of events: exothermic approximately at 600˚C, endothermic approximately at 950˚C and the fusion point of Co-Cr-Mo alloy occurs at 1354˚C.This phenomenon is similar to described by [24], which obtain endothermic peaks, respectively at approximately  These phase transitions represent different behavior of material dilatation, as can be seen at the CTE curve respectively by the dilatations peaks.Therefore, it can be seen from the thermal results that the stability of the Co-Cr-Mo alloy processed by SLM correlates with the phase transitions of the material.In this way, the thermal properties guaranteed the post processing for coating on dental components avoiding defects.

Conclusions
The particles in the study produced by gas atomization showed spherical particle geometry with satellites and internal porosity.The analysis of the granulometric sizes of powders gave a better understanding of the physical results obtained from some properties of the powders, as can be cited flow hate and densities: apparent, tap and helium pycnometry.In addition, the physical properties evaluated showed that powders in the range of 20 to 46 µm, provide a better packing results.These powder behaviors are of great importance in the additive manufacturing process using the selective laser melting technology.
Additive manufacturing using selective laser melting of biocompatible Co-Cr-Mo alloy at the range 20 to 46 µm allowed obtaining significant mechanical properties qualifying at type 5 of ISO22674 standard.SLM process assures the biocompatibility of Co-Cr-Mo alloy after manufacturing the specimens.In addition, the particle format was analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM-Philips XL30).The density characterization by Helium pycnometry was performed in the Co-Cr-Mo powders using the Micromeritics machine (Model Accu PYC 1330 Pycnometer).To evaluate the internal porosity of powders sample were measured the Helium pycnometry in comparison by the theoretical density.The density by pycnometry considered only the internal porosity (excluding the open porosity) and for this purpose was utilized the Micromeritics equipment (Model Accu PYC 1330 Pycnometer).
three-point bending test determined the transversal rupture strength (TRS) of Co-Cr-Mo specimens made by SLM.The dilatometric analysis was performed on SLM samples were analysed in the parallel and transversal building direction (SLM 1-parallel direction and DOI: 10.4236/jbnb.2018.9100892 Journal of Biomaterials and Nanobiotechnology SLM 2-transversal direction), as seen in Figure 1.The purpose of this analysis was to measure the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE).In addition, to observe the thermal behaviour of Co-Cr-Mo alloy the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis was performed on the sample of gas-atomized D2 powder of the Co-Cr-Mo alloy.The routine of thermal analysis remained the heating rate was from 10˚C/min until the temperature of 1300˚C.The equipment used was a Setaram-Setsys 16/18, using a thermocouple rod of Pt/Pt Rh 10% under a static atmosphere (argon-99.999%)to reduce the sample oxidation.

Figure 2
Figure 2 presents the Co-Cr-Mo powders samples with spherical morphology, as well as the presence of satellites.These formations and the spherical morphology

Figure 3 .
Figure 3.The sample of the ratio D1 powder having a very fine granulometry and was characterize as no flow powder by Hall flowmeter funnel.Comparing the flow time between D2 powder and D3 powder it is observed that D2 powder had better flowability than D3 powder.The poor flowability of D3 powder was influenced by presence of satellites particles and its superior roughness (can be observed in Figure 2(c)) that narrow the powder mass through the funnel orifice.

Figure 4 .
Figure 4. Result of viability of cell growth for Co-Cr-Mo sample manufactured by SLM process.

19. 5 ×
10 −6 ˚C−1 .At the temperature of 600˚C the coefficient value decreases to the values of 12.5 and 14.5 × 10 −6 ˚C−1 .The thermal properties are very important for metal materials applied to dental restoration at the temperature range of 500˚C to 600˚C.The applications of dental restorations required a porcelain coating (copings and crowns) that can be support values of CTE similar to the biomaterial Co-Cr-Mo alloy.Therefore, to avoid the possibility of forming cracks or voids during the coating process[23].
970˚C and 1000˚C, relative to that obtained in the present study of 944˚C.The lower difference in temperature is possible associated with the chemical composition of the alloy (64Co-29Cr-7Mo of the present study), which represent alloys of composition according to ASTM F75 (66Co-28Cr-6Mo).

Table 1 .
Chemical composition of Co-Cr-Mo powder and SLM samples by XRF and LECO (elements: C, S, N 2 and O 2 ) in comparison with the standard reference ASTM F75 [11].

Table 2 .
Physical properties results of Co-Cr-Mo gas-atomized powders in different granulometric ranges.

Table 3 .
Results of mechanical properties of SLM samples manufactured by Co-Cr-Mo alloy in comparison with minimum properties of type 5 criteria at ISO 22674.