A method for the layer-by-layer additive manufacturing of a composite material having the selective irradiation of a base material to produce a first, dense material phase and to produce a second, porous material phase, wherein the production of the first material phase and the production of the second material phase take place alternately. A correspondingly produced composite material and to a component has the composite material.

A chiral cell includes a cell structure. The cell structure includes an upper ring, a middle ring, a lower ring, upper connecting rods, and lower connecting rods. The upper ring and the lower ring have the same geometrical shape, and the middle ring is located between the upper ring and the lower ring. A plurality of upper connecting rods is provided; the two ends of each upper connecting rod are respectively correspondingly connected to the upper ring and the middle ring and the upper connecting rods are obliquely and uniformly distributed between the upper ring and the middle ring; a plurality of lower connecting rods is provided; the two ends of each lower connecting rod are respectively correspondingly connected to the lower ring and the middle ring and the lower connecting rods are obliquely and uniformly distributed between the lower ring and the middle ring.

A chiral cell includes a cell structure. The cell structure includes an upper ring, a middle ring, a lower ring, upper connecting rods, and lower connecting rods. The upper ring and the lower ring have the same geometrical shape, and the middle ring is located between the upper ring and the lower ring. A plurality of upper connecting rods is provided; the two ends of each upper connecting rod are respectively correspondingly connected to the upper ring and the middle ring and the upper connecting rods are obliquely and uniformly distributed between the upper ring and the middle ring; a plurality of lower connecting rods is provided; the two ends of each lower connecting rod are respectively correspondingly connected to the lower ring and the middle ring and the lower connecting rods are obliquely and uniformly distributed between the lower ring and the middle ring.

A hybrid method of surface hardening metallic components using a combination of chemical modification achieved through additive manufacturing and/or diffusion-based processing with transformation-based processing using a high energy density heat source. The hybrid process results in increased surface hardness and/or increased average case hardness and/or increased case depth compared to either treatment individually.

A hybrid method of surface hardening metallic components using a combination of chemical modification achieved through additive manufacturing and/or diffusion-based processing with transformation-based processing using a high energy density heat source. The hybrid process results in increased surface hardness and/or increased average case hardness and/or increased case depth compared to either treatment individually.

A process for additive manufacturing of a metal alloy material is provided that includes: a) providing a feedstock powder comprising base powder particles with nanoparticles attached to surfaces of the base powder particles; b) providing an additive manufacturing system with a laser power source relatively movable at a scan speed; c) wherein the additive manufacturing system has a process window for the feedstock powder; and d) exposing the feedstock powder to a predetermined power input from the laser power source at a predetermined scan speed to produce the metal alloy material. The concentration by volume of nanoparticles within the feedstock powder is such that independent first and second microstructures may be produced within the metal alloy material.

A process for additive manufacturing of a metal alloy material is provided that includes: a) providing a feedstock powder comprising base powder particles with nanoparticles attached to surfaces of the base powder particles; b) providing an additive manufacturing system with a laser power source relatively movable at a scan speed; c) wherein the additive manufacturing system has a process window for the feedstock powder; and d) exposing the feedstock powder to a predetermined power input from the laser power source at a predetermined scan speed to produce the metal alloy material. The concentration by volume of nanoparticles within the feedstock powder is such that independent first and second microstructures may be produced within the metal alloy material.

A method of operating an apparatus (10) for producing a three-dimensional work piece (18) by irradiating layers of a raw material powder with electromagnetic or particle radiation comprises the steps of a) applying a layer of raw material powder onto a carrier (12); b) selectively irradiating the layer of raw material powder with electromagnetic or particle radiation in accordance with a geometry of a corresponding layer of the work piece (18) to be produced; and c) repeating steps a) and b) until the work piece (18) has reached the desired shape and size. For at least a portion of at least some of the layers, a scanning time (t.sub.s) from the beginning of the exposure of a respective raw material powder layer portion to electromagnetic or particle radiation until the beginning of the exposure of a new raw material powder layer applied on top of said layer portion to electromagnetic or particle radiation is controlled so as to not fall below a specific minimum value which is individually set for said layer portion in dependence on a layer portion specific quality parameter. layer portion specific quality parameter

A method of operating an apparatus (10) for producing a three-dimensional work piece (18) by irradiating layers of a raw material powder with electromagnetic or particle radiation comprises the steps of a) applying a layer of raw material powder onto a carrier (12); b) selectively irradiating the layer of raw material powder with electromagnetic or particle radiation in accordance with a geometry of a corresponding layer of the work piece (18) to be produced; and c) repeating steps a) and b) until the work piece (18) has reached the desired shape and size. For at least a portion of at least some of the layers, a scanning time (t.sub.s) from the beginning of the exposure of a respective raw material powder layer portion to electromagnetic or particle radiation until the beginning of the exposure of a new raw material powder layer applied on top of said layer portion to electromagnetic or particle radiation is controlled so as to not fall below a specific minimum value which is individually set for said layer portion in dependence on a layer portion specific quality parameter. layer portion specific quality parameter

A method of redistributing the binder phase of a cemented carbide mining insert having a WC hard-phase component, optionally one or more further hard-phase components and a binder includes the steps of providing a green cemented carbide mining insert; applying at least one binder puller selected from a metal oxide or a metal carbonate to only at least one local area of the surface of the green cemented carbide insert; sintering the green carbide mining insert to form a sintered cemented carbide insert; and subjecting the sintered cemented carbide insert to dry tumbling process executed at an elevated temperature of or above 100° C., preferably at a temperature of or above 200° C., more preferably at a temperature of between 200° C. and 450° C.