Gradually varying the material composition during manufacturing: one of the major advantages of multi-material
DED.
The multi-material
DED process allows for a gradual variation in the composition of the deposited material. On a turbine disc, this approach makes it possible to tailor properties to different zones: mechanical and fatigue strength toward the hub, and creep resistance and high-temperature resistance toward the rim. Gicam’s patented multi-distributor system allows the proportions of two materials to be varied during deposition.
This approach paves the way for turbine discs that combine, within a single part, mechanical and fatigue strength toward the hub and creep resistance at high temperatures toward the rim—two distinct mechanical requirements that conventional processes cannot achieve with such precision. This is a strategic area of research for civil and military aviation, particularly for next-generation engines, where the thermomechanical performance of turbine discs remains a limiting factor. Nickel-based superalloys are particularly well-suited to this type of multi-material approach.
This is one of the most compelling examples of the added value of
DED compared to conventional machining: by its very nature, a traditional subtractive process cannot vary the material composition within the volume of the part, whereas
DED’s layer-by-layer deposition allows for this natively.
