Simulation of phase evolution in a Zr-based glass forming alloy during multiple laser remelting

Additive manufacturing by laser-based powder bed fusion is a promising technique for bulk metallic glass production. But, reheating by deposition of subsequent layers may cause local crystallisation of the alloy. To investigate the crystalline phase evolution during laser scanning of a Zr-based metallic glass-forming alloy, a simulation strategy based on the finite element method and the classical nucleation theory has been developed and compared with experimental results from multiple laser remelting of a single-track. Multiple laser remelting of a single-track demonstrates the crystallisation behaviour by the influence of thermal history in the reheated material. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy reveals the crystalline phase evolution in the heat affected zone after each laser scan. A trend can be observed where repeated remelting results in an increased crystalline volume fraction with larger crystals in the heat affected zone, both in simulation and experiment. A gradient of cluster number density and mean radius can also be predicted by the model, with good correlation to the experiments. Prediction of crystallisation, as presented in this work, can be a useful tool to aid the development of process parameters during additive manufacturing for bulk metallic glass formation.