CoChat
Sign Up
Cited by 2,353Additive Manufacturing Materials and ProcessesAdditive Manufacturing and 3D Printing TechnologiesPowder Metallurgy Techniques and Materials

Review of selective laser melting: Materials and applications

Open access
Yap, C. Y., Chua, C. K., Dong, Z. L., Liu, Z. H., Zhang, D. Q., Loh, L. E., Sing, S. L.·2015·Applied Physics Reviews
DOI 10.1063/1.4935926
Open this paper in CoChat — free accountOpen PDF

Abstract

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is a particular rapid prototyping, 3D printing, or Additive Manufacturing (AM) technique designed to use high power-density laser to melt and fuse metallic powders. A component is built by selectively melting and fusing powders within and between layers. The SLM technique is also commonly known as direct selective laser sintering, LaserCusing, and direct metal laser sintering, and this technique has been proven to produce near net-shape parts up to 99.9% relative density. This enables the process to build near full density functional parts and has viable economic benefits. Recent developments of fibre optics and high-power laser have also enabled SLM to process different metallic materials, such as copper, aluminium, and tungsten. Similarly, this has also opened up research opportunities in SLM of ceramic and composite materials. The review presents the SLM process and some of the common physical phenomena associated with this AM technology. It then focuses on the following areas: (a) applications of SLM materials and (b) mechanical properties of SLM parts achieved in research publications. The review is not meant to put a ceiling on the capabilities of the SLM process but to enable readers to have an overview on the material properties achieved by the SLM process so far. Trends in research of SLM are also elaborated in the last section.

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1063/1.4935926

Cites

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

A few free checks a day · papers already verified open instantly · results are public

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Existing AM fatigue literature indicates that porosity, residual stress and surface roughness are the largest concerns for HCF and LCF, with overall fatigue properties generally substandard compared to conventional manufacturing.

    “The existing AM fatigue literature demonstrates test results that indicate porosity, residual stress and surface roughness are the largest concerns for high cycle fatigue (HCF) and low cycle fatigue (LCF) testing scenarios with overall fatigue properties generally substandard compared to conventional manufacturing processes [34,40,41].”

    From Metal additive manufacturing in aerospace: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [41]

    The Properties section (p. 9) identifies porosity and surface roughness as limitations of SLM parts, and the Summary (p. 17) describes post-processing to reduce residual stress and roughness. But our copy does not identify these as the largest concerns in HCF or LCF testing, or establish that AM fatigue properties are generally worse than those of conventionally manufactured parts. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Once process is optimized, resulting components produced can boast mechanical properties exceeding those of conventional manufacturing techniques with proper procedures in place.

    “Once the process is optimized, the resulting components produced can boast mechanical properties exceeding those of conventional manufacturing techniques with proper procedures in place [34,41].”

    From Metal additive manufacturing in aerospace: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [41]

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The self-check needs the paper’s full text.

Cites

No references could be resolved yet.

Research works printed but not linked: 61

  1. C. K. Chua and K. F. Leong, 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing: Principles and Applications, 4th ed. (World Scientific, Singapore, 2014), p. 518.
  2. R. Acharya, R. Bansal, J. J. Gambone, and S. Das, Metall. Mater. Trans. B 45, 2247-2261 (2014).
  3. R. Acharya, R. Bansal, J. J. Gambone, and S. Das, Metall. Mater. Trans. B 45, 2279-2290 (2014).
  4. R. Acharya and S. Das, Metall. Mater. Trans. A 46, 3864-3875 (2015).
  5. B. Liu, R. Wildman, C. Tuck, I. Ashcroft, and R. Hague, in International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium: An Additive Manufacturing Conference (University of Texas at Austin, Austin, 2011), pp. 227-238.
  6. K. Kempen, B. Vrancken, L. Thijs, S. Buls, J. Van Humbeeck, and J.-P. Kruth, in Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium Proceedings, 2013, Austin, TX, USA (The University of Texas at Austin).
  7. I. Yadroitsev and I. Yadroitsava, Virtual Phys. Prototyping 10(2), 67-76 (2015).
  8. E. Yasa, J. Deckers, J.-P. Kruth, M. Rombouts, and J. Luyten, in ASME 2010 10th Biennial Conference on Engineering Systems Design and Analysis (ASME, 2010), pp. 695-703.
  9. Y.-C. Hagedorn, J. Wilkes, W. Meiners, K. Wissenbach, and R. Poprawe, Phys. Proc. 5, 587-594 (2010).
  10. G. Jandin, J. M. Bertin, L. Dembinski, and C. Coddet, Manufacture of Stainless Steel Parts by Selective Laser Melting Process (CRC Press, 2005), pp. 431-434.
  11. T. H. C. Childs, C. Hauser, and M. Badrossamay, Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng., Part B 219, 339-357 (2005).
  12. T. H. C. Childs and C. Hauser, Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng., Part B 219, 379-384 (2005).
  13. P. G. E. Jerrard, L. Hao, and K. E. Evans, Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng., Part B 223, 1409-1416 (2009).
  14. I. Yadroitsev, P. Bertrand, B. Laget, and I. Smurov, in Annals of DAAAM for 2008 and Proceedings of the 19th International DAAAM Symposium (DAAAM International, Vienna, 2008), pp. 1535-1536.
  15. J. P. Kruth, B. Vandenbroucke, J. Van Vaerenbergh, and I. Naert, Digital Manufacturing of Biocompatible Metal Frameworks for Complex Dental Prostheses by Means of SLS/SLM (Taylor & Francis, 2005), pp. 139-145.
  16. M. Wehmoller, P. H. Warnke, C. Zilian, and H. Eufinger, CARS: Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery (Elsevier, 2005), pp. 690-695.
  17. G. X. Chen, X. Y. Zeng, Z. M. Wang, K. Guan, and C. W. Peng, Equipment Manufacturing Technology and Automation (Trans Tech Publications, 2011), Pts. 1-3, pp. 174-178.
  18. P. Bertrand and I. Smurov, in International Conference on Lasers, Applications, and Technologies 2007: Laser-Assisted Micro-and 041101-18
  19. Yap et al. Appl. Phys. Rev. 2, 041101 (2015)
  20. M. A. Garcia, C. Garcia-Pando, and C. Marto, Conformal Cooling in Moulds With Special Geometry (CRC Press, 2012), p. 409-412.
  21. V. E. Beal, P. Erasenthiran, C. H. Ahrens, and P. Dickens, Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng., Part B 221, 945-954 (2007).
  22. M. Santorinaios, W. Brooks, C. J. Sutcliffe, and R. A. W. Mines, High Performance Structures and Materials III (WIT Press, 2006), pp. 481-490.
  23. Y. Shen, W. J. Cantwell, R. Mines, and K. Ushijima, Materials and Manufacturing Technologies XIV (Trans Tech Publications, 2012), pp. 386-391.
  24. F. Feuerhahn, A. Schulz, T. Seefeld, and F. Vollertsen, Lasers in Manufacturing (Trans Tech Publications, 2013), pp. 836-841.
  25. C. S. Wright, M. Youseffi, S. P. Akhtar, T. H. C. Childs, C. Hauser, P. Fox, and J. Xie, Advanced Materials Forum III (Trans Tech Publications, 2006), Pts. 1 and 2, pp. 516-523.
  26. K. Kempen, E. Yasa, L. Thijs, J. P. Kruth, and J. Van Humbeeck, in Lasers in Manufacturing 2011: Proceedings of the Sixth International Wlt Conference on Lasers in Manufacturing (Elsevier, 2011), Vol. 12, Pt. A, pp. 255-263.
  27. Z. H. Liu, C. K. Chua, K. F. Leong, K. Kempen, L. Thijs, E. Yasa, and J. P. Kruth, in 5th International Conference on Advanced Research in Virtual and Rapid Prototyping, 2011, Leiria, Portugal (CRC Press).
  28. F. Abe, E. C. Santos, Y. Kitamura, K. Osakada, and M. Shiomi, Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng., Part C 217, 119-126 (2003).
  29. T. Laoui, E. Santos, K. Osakada, M. Shiomi, M. Morita, S. K. Shaik, and M. Takahashi, Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng., Part C 220, 857-863 (2006).
  30. B. Dybala and E. Chlebus, Titanium Scaffolds for Custom CMF Restorations (ASME, 2013), pp. 517-520. 100
  31. L. C. Zhang and T. B. Sercombe, Powder Metallurgy of Titanium: Powder Processing, Consolidation and Metallurgy of Titanium (Trans Tech Publications, 2012), pp. 226-233.
  32. A. Zielinski, S. Sobieszczyk, W. Serbinski, T. Seramak, and A. Ossowska, Environmental Degradation of Engineering & Materials Engineering and Technologies (Trans Tech Publications, 2012), pp. 225-232. 103
  33. M. Speirs, J. Van Humbeeck, J. Schrooten, J. Luyten, and J. P. Kruth, in First CIRP Conference on Biomanufacturing (Elsevier, 2013), pp. 79-82. 104
  34. Yap et al. Appl. Phys. Rev. 2, 041101 (2015)
  35. R. Hasan, R. Mines, and P. Fox, in 11th International Conference on the Mechanical Behavior of Materials, 2011, Villa Erba, Como, Italy (Elsevier).
  36. J. A. Lorente, M. M. Mendoza, A. Z. Petersson, L. Pambaguian, A. A. Melcon, and C. Ernst, Single Part Microwave Filters Made From Selective Laser Melting (IEEE, 2009), pp. 1421-1424.
  37. F. Caiazzo, F. Cardaropoli, V. Alfieri, V. Sergi, and L. Cuccaro, in 2012 XIX International Symposium on High-Power Laser Systems and Applications, 2013, Istanbul, Turkey (SPIE).
  38. E. C. Santos, K. Osakada, M. Shiomi, Y. Kitamura, and F. Abe, Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng., Part C 218, 711-719 (2004).
  39. H. Meier, C. Haberland, J. Frenzel, and R. Zarnetta, Selective Laser Melting of NiTi Shape Memory Components (CRC Press, 2010), pp. 233-238.
  40. H. Meier, C. Haberland, and J. Frenzel, Structural and Functional Properties of NiTi Shape Memory Alloys Produced by Selective Laser Melting (CRC Press, 2012), pp. 291-296.
  41. I. Kelbassa, P. Albus, J. Dietrich, and J. Wilkes, in Proceedings of the 3rd Pacific International Conference on Application of Lasers and Optics, 2008, Beijing, China (Laser Institute of America).
  42. S. Das, M. Wohlert, J. Beaman, and D. Bourell, in Proceedings to the Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium, 1997, Austin, TX, USA (University of Texas at Austin).
  43. K. Kempen, L. Thijs, E. Yasa, M. Badrossamay, W. Verheecke, and J. Kruth, "Process optimization and microstructural analysis for selective laser melting of AlSi 10 Mg," in Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium, 2011, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA, pp. 484-495.
  44. S. Pogson, P. Fox, and W. O'Neill, "The effect of varying laser scanning speed on DMLR processed metal parts," in Fourth National Conference on Rapid and Virtual Prototyping and Applications (Professional Engineering Publications, Lancaster, UK, 2003), pp. 43-50. 141
  45. S. P. Faure, L. Mercier, P. Didier, R. Roux, J. F. Coulon, and S. Garel, Laser Sintering Process Analysis: Application to Chromium-Cobalt Alloys For Dental Prosthesis Production (ASME, 2012), pp. 9-15. 147
  46. T. Vilaro, S. Abed, and W. Knapp, in Proceedings of the 12th European Forum on Rapid Prototyping, 2008. 156
  47. K. Deprez, S. Vandenberghe, K. Van Audenhaege, J. Van Vaerenbergh, and R. Van Holen, Med. Phys. 40, 012501 (2013). 159
  48. P. Jerrard, L. Hao, S. Dadbakhsh, and K. Evans, in Proceedings of the 36th International MATADOR Conference (Springer, 2010), pp. 487-490. 162
  49. D. Buchbinder, H. Schleifenbaum, S. Heidrich, W. Meiners, and J. Bultmann, in Lasers in Manufacturing 2011: Proceedings of the Sixth International Wlt Conference on Lasers in Manufacturing (Elsevier, 2011), Vol. 12, Pt. A, pp. 271-278. 163
  50. D. Zhang, Z. Liu, and C. Chua, in High Value Manufacturing: Advanced Research in Virtual and Rapid Prototyping: Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Advanced Research in Virtual and Rapid Prototyping, Leiria, Portugal, 1-5 October 2013 (CRC Press, 2013), p. 285.
  51. D. Q. Zhang, Z. H. Liu, S. Li, M. Muzzammil, C. H. Wong, and C. K. Chua, Selective Laser Melting: On The Study of Microstructure of K220 (Research Publishing, 2014), pp. 176-184. 168
  52. M. Khan and P. Dickens, Gold Bull. 43, 8 (2010). 170
  53. M. M. Savalani, C. C. Ng, and H. C. Man, Selective Laser Melting of Magnesium for Future Applications in Medicine (IEEE, 2010). 172
  54. C. Yap, C. Chua, Z. Dong, Z. Liu, and D. Zhang, in High Value Manufacturing: Advanced Research in Virtual and Rapid Prototyping: Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Advanced Research in Virtual and Rapid Prototyping, Leiria, Portugal, 1-5 October 2013 (CRC Press, 2013), p. 261. 173
  55. M. Mapar, D. Zhang, Z. Liu, W. Yeong, C. Chua, B. Tay, and F. Wiria, in High Value Manufacturing: Advanced Research in Virtual and Rapid Prototyping: Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on 041101-20
  56. Yap et al. Appl. Phys. Rev. 2, 041101 (2015) Advanced Research in Virtual and Rapid Prototyping, Leiria, Portugal, 1-5 October 2013 (CRC Press, 2013), p. 267. 174
  57. Y. C. Hagedorn, N. Balachandron, W. Meiners, K. Wissenbach, and R. Poprawe, in SFF Symposium, 2011, Austin, TX, USA (University of Texas at Austin). 176
  58. J. Wilkes and K. Wissenbach, "Rapid manufacturing of ceramic compo- nents for medical and technical applications via selective laser melting," in Euro-uRapid 2007 International User's Conference on Rapid Prototyping & Rapid Tooling & Rapid Manufacturing (Fraunhofer, Frankfurt, Germany, 2007).
  59. D. D. Gu, C. Hong, and G. B. Meng, Metall. Mater. Trans. A 43A, 697-708 (2012).
  60. J. H. Kim and T. S. Creasy, in Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium (University of Texas at Austin, 2002), p. 224. 209
  61. Yap et al. Appl. Phys. Rev. 2, 041101 (2015)

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Yap, C. Y., Chua, C. K., Dong, Z. L., Liu, Z. H., Zhang, D. Q., Loh, L. E., & Sing, S. L.
Affiliations
Nanyang Technological University (SG)
ORCID
Venue
Applied Physics Reviews
Publisher
AIP Publishing
Published
2015-12-01
Volume
2
Issue
4
ISSN
1931-9401 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1063/1.4935926
OpenAlex
W2192772080
Cited by
2,353
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 170 · 2025: 269 · 2024: 262 · 2023: 296 · 2022: 341 · 2021: 325 · 2020: 262 · 2019: 190 · 2018: 130 · 2017: 77 · 2016: 31
FWCI
77.93
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Applied Physics Reviews (publishedVersion)
  • DR-NTU (Nanyang Technological University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Nanyang Technological University
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Additive Manufacturing Materials and Processes
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanical Engineering › Powder Metallurgy Techniques and Materials
Keywords
laser powder bed fusion, additive manufacturing, direct metal laser sintering, near-net-shape parts, relative density, copper, aluminum, tungsten, fiber optics, high-power lasers

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review