Morphology, microstructure, compressive behavior, and biocorrosive properties of magnesium or magnesium alloy foams allow for their use in biodegradable biomedical, metal-air battery electrode, hydrogen storage, and lightweight transportation applications. Magnesium or Mg alloy foams are usually very difficult to manufacture due to the strong oxidation layer around the metallic particles; however, in this invention, they can be synthesized via a camphene-based freeze-casting process with the addition of graphite powder using precisely controlled heat-treatment parameters. The average porosity ranges from 45 to 85 percent and the median pore diameter is about a few tens to hundreds of microns, which are suitable for bio and energy applications utilizing their enhanced surface area. This invention based on powder-slurry freeze-casting method using camphene as a volatile solvent is also applicable for other metal foams such as iron, copper, or others to produce three-dimensional metal foams with high strut connectivity.

A method includes placing an additively manufactured article having one or more internal channels in a non-reactive liquid to remove remainder powder from within the one or more internal channels, wherein the non-reactive liquid is a gas at room temperature and/or pressure. Placing the additively manufactured article in the non-reactive liquid includes can include placing the additively manufactured article in liquid nitrogen.

A method includes placing an additively manufactured article having one or more internal channels in a non-reactive liquid to remove remainder powder from within the one or more internal channels, wherein the non-reactive liquid is a gas at room temperature and/or pressure. Placing the additively manufactured article in the non-reactive liquid includes can include placing the additively manufactured article in liquid nitrogen.

According to the invention, a metal workpiece made by additive manufacturing is subjected, following the additive manufacturing process, to a cold treatment in which the workpiece is cooled to a lower target temperature of less than minus 30? C. in a cooling phase and is then heated up to an upper target temperature in a heating phase. The cold treatment significantly improves the properties of the workpiece in respect of the mechanical quality thereof.

According to the invention, a metal workpiece made by additive manufacturing is subjected, following the additive manufacturing process, to a cold treatment in which the workpiece is cooled to a lower target temperature of less than minus 30? C. in a cooling phase and is then heated up to an upper target temperature in a heating phase. The cold treatment significantly improves the properties of the workpiece in respect of the mechanical quality thereof.

Apparatus and a method for forming a metallic component by additive layer manufacturing are provided. The method includes the steps of using a heat source such as a laser to melt the surface of a work piece and form a weld pool; adding wire or powdered metallic material to the weld pool and moving the heat source relative to the work piece so as to progressively form a new layer of metallic material on the work piece; applying forced cooling to the formed layer; stress relieving the cooled layer by applying a peening step, for example with a pulsed laser, and repeating the above steps as required to form the component layer by layer.

Apparatus and a method for forming a metallic component by additive layer manufacturing are provided. The method includes the steps of using a heat source such as a laser to melt the surface of a work piece and form a weld pool; adding wire or powdered metallic material to the weld pool and moving the heat source relative to the work piece so as to progressively form a new layer of metallic material on the work piece; applying forced cooling to the formed layer; stress relieving the cooled layer by applying a peening step, for example with a pulsed laser, and repeating the above steps as required to form the component layer by layer.

An additive manufacturing method of manufacturing a product by laminating metal includes: laminating the metal so as to form a half-finished product of the product and a support; and spraying dry ice pellets having a particle shape to the support, after the laminating.

An additive manufacturing method of manufacturing a product by laminating metal includes: laminating the metal so as to form a half-finished product of the product and a support; and spraying dry ice pellets having a particle shape to the support, after the laminating.

A process for producing a metal foam includes mechanically working a metallic powder such that oxide particles are finely dispersed within a metallic matrix and annealing the mechanically worked metallic powder in a vacuum the annealed metallic powder such that intraparticle porosity is formed by decomposition of the oxide particles at elevated temperature to reduce the oxide particles to metallic form and liberate the oxygen atoms in gaseous form, thereby creating porosity.