Direct Selective Laser Melting of Nitinol Powder

Conditions of a layer-by-layer synthesis of 3D parts made of nitinol by a Selective Laser Melting (SLM) are studied. Full-density 3D parts from nitinol are manufactured by the SLM with preheating up to 500 °C. The effect of different laser parameters on the structure and an intermetallic phase composition of the melted samples is analyzed by the methods of optical metallography, microhardness measurement, SEM, X-ray and EDX analysis. Optimal SLM conditions for NiTi sample's fabrication and eventual biomedical applications are discussed.