Laser Powder Bed Fusion of Magnetic Materials

Webinar 12

SPEAKER I

Ville Laitinen (LUT University, Finland)

Laser powder bed fusion of Ni–Mn–Ga magnetic shape memory alloys

 

Abstract: This presentation discusses recent advances in processing Ni–Mn–Ga-based magnetic shape memory alloys (MSMAs) using laser powder bed fusion (PBF-LB), with emphasis on how processing parameters determine microstructure and functional performance. While Ni–Mn–Ga single crystals can exhibit giant magnetic-field-induced strains (MFIS) of up to 6–12%, transferring this behaviour to additively manufactured polycrystalline materials remains challenging due to grain boundary constraints and the high sensitivity of functional properties to small compositional changes. This presentation explains how PBF-LB process parameters can be used to control the selective loss of Mn, providing a route for in-situ tuning of the final alloy composition, martensite structure and transformation temperatures, and ultimately the attainable MFIS. Processing and post-processing strategies to promote coarse-grained, bamboo-like microstructures are presented. Selected examples show that PBF-LB-fabricated Ni–Mn–Ga can develop large, fully reversible MFIS approaching those achieved in conventionally grown single crystals, underlining the potential of PBF-LB for manufacturing functional material for ultrafast actuator applications.

 

Related publications:

  • V. Laitinen, A. Saren, A. Sozinov, K. Ullakko, Giant 5.8% magnetic-field-induced strain in additive manufactured Ni–Mn–Ga magnetic shape memory alloy, Scripta Materialia 208 (2022) 114324.
  • A. Milleret, V. Laitinen, K. Ullakko, N. Fenineche, M. M. Attallah, Laser powder bed fusion of (14M) Ni–Mn–Ga magnetic shape memory alloy lattices, Additive Manufacturing 60 (2022) 103231.

SPEAKER II

Abdelmoez Hussein (Loughborough University, UK)

Laser Powder Bed Fusion of Magnetic Alloys

 

Abstract: This talk focuses on laser powder bed fusion of magnetic materials, highlighting key challenges that influence functional performance, as well as the advantages and limitations of current approach. The presentation draws on two case studies: laser powder bed fusion of Mu-metal soft magnets and magnetocaloric alloys for net-zero applications. Emphasis is placed on controlling magnetic anisotropy and aligning along the easy axis of magnetization for better soft magnetic properties as well as on driving thermodynamic phase transition, and on how these factors directly influence the functional performance.

Related publications:

  • Additive manufacturing of magnetic materials: Co-edited book for Elsevier, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-33395-8.00019-7.
  • Abd El-Moez A. Mohamed, Minki Jeong, Richard S. Sheridan, Moataz M. Attallah, Enabling high efficiency magnetic refrigeration using laser powder bed fusion of porous LaCe(Fe,Mn,Si)13 structures, Additive manufacturing 51 (2022) 102620.