Analysis of Environmental Impact and Mechanical Properties of Inconel 625 Produced Using Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing
Open accessAbstract
Inconel 625 is a nickel-based superalloy widely used in industries such as energy, space, and defence, due to its strength and corrosion resistance. It is traditionally time- and resource-intensive to machine, leading to increased environmental impact and material waste. Using additive manufacturing (AM) technology enables a reduction in resource consumption during the manufacture of high value components, as material is only deposited where it is required. This study compares the environmental impact of manufacturing an Inconel 625 impeller through machining and wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) by employing established life cycle assessment methods. WAAM shows significant advantages, cutting energy consumption threefold and reducing material waste from 85% to 35%. The current work also evaluates the mechanical properties of WAAM-produced components through tensile and axial fatigue testing, in addition to the use of optical and electron microscopy for metallurgical analysis and fractography. This demonstrates yield and ultimate tensile strengths exceeding industrial standards, with comparable or superior fatigue life to other AM methods. The improved fatigue performance extends the service life of components, bolstering sustainability by reducing the need for frequent replacements, thereby lessening associated environmental impacts. These findings underscore the promise of WAAM in enhancing both environmental sustainability and mechanical performance in manufacturing Inconel 625 components.
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Studies on the use of Inconel 625 via wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) have shown a threefold reduction in energy consumption and a material waste reduction from 85% to 35%.
“For example, studies on the use of Inconel 625 via wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) have shown a threefold reduction in energy consumption and a material waste reduction from 85% to 35% [154].”
From Towards Sustainability in Hydraulic Machinery Manufacturing by 3D Printing (2024) · cites this paper as [154]
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- Authors
- Sword, J. I., Galloway, A., & Toumpis, A.
- Affiliations
- University of Strathclyde (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Toumpis, Athanasios
- Venue
- Sustainability
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2024-05-16
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 4178
- ISSN
- 2071-1050 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4396957328
- Cited by
- 14
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 1
- FWCI
- 1.88
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Sustainability (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Strathprints: The University of Strathclyde institutional repository (University of Strathclyde) (acceptedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- 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 › High Temperature Alloys and Creep
- Keywords
- Inconel 625, nickel-based superalloy, wire arc additive manufacturing, life cycle assessment, machining comparison, impeller, material waste reduction, energy consumption, tensile strength, axial fatigue, fractography, mechanical properties, environmental impact of manufacturing
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