Complex structures produced by additive manufacturing and Epanizing – X-FA2023

Metal Additive Manufacturing (MAM) is a major field of study and innovation. Transportation industry, and in particular the aerospace industry, presently devotes considerable efforts in modelling designs that optimize simultaneously weight, mechanical resistance and functional operation. Despite all efforts, products printed by MAM are generally considered as raw parts. Indeed, surface defects and roughness generated by the layer by layer sequential deposition, degrade the mechanical resistance of complex structures due to stress concentration. Standard mechanical polishing and electro-polishing techniques are unable to improve significantly the surface finish in deep hollow complex structures. We propose to develop a research devoted to fit, improve and integrate an innovative complementary post-processing technology, right from the design step. It is intended to coat inner surfaces of complex-shape parts produced by MAM, using a gas-phase treatment producing an intermetallic diffusive coating.