Particulate-reinforced iron-based metal matrix composites fabricated by selective laser melting: A systematic review

Nowadays, many fields are benefiting from manufacturing complex parts with high performance by selective laser melting (SLM), and particulate-reinforced iron-based metal matrix composites (MMCs) are important materials because of their appealing performance, low cost, well-investigated scientific background, and wide range of applications. Combining advantages of SLM and particulate-reinforced iron-based MMCs, great progress has been made in the SLM of particulate-reinforced iron-based MMCs. To provide a thorough basis for the SLM of particulate-reinforced iron-based MMCs, the design, manufacturing and analysis process of MMCs are systematically reviewed: the design and preparation of powder mixture, design of SLM process, post-processing and post-treatment, and some metallurgical behaviors (interface, phase evolution and particle distribution, etc.), defects, properties, and strengthening mechanisms of MMCs. Particularly, the selection and design of layer thickness, laser power, scanning speed, hatch spacing, scanning strategy, chamber atmosphere, and pre-heating are discussed in detail. This paper could present an overall process to obtain high-quality SLM-fabricated iron-based MMCs reinforced by particulates.