Quantifying internal strains, stresses, and dislocation density in additively manufactured AlSi10Mg during loading-unloading-reloading deformation

The plastic deformation of the AlSi10Mg alloy manufactured via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is incompatible at the microscale, which causes residual strains/stresses and dislocation pile-ups at the Al/Si interfaces and grain boundaries. Hence, it is of fundamental significance to clarify these microscopic properties during plastic deformation. Here, in-situ neutron diffraction is employed to explore the residual strains, stresses, and dislocation density in the LPBF AlSi10Mg during loading-unloading-reloading deformation. It is found that the maximum residual stresses of the Al and Si phases in the loading direction reach up to about −115 (compressive) and 832 (tensile) MPa, respectively. A notable dislocation annihilation phenomenon is observed in the Al matrix: the dislocation density decreases significantly during unloading stages, and the amplitude of this reduction increases after experiencing a larger plastic deformation. At the macroscale, this dislocation annihilation phenomenon is associated with the reverse strain after unloading. At the microscale, the annihilation phenomenon is driven by the compressive residual stress in the Al matrix. Meanwhile, the annihilation of screw dislocations during unloading stages contributes to the reduction in total dislocation density.