In October 2024, a joint research team from the School of Nuclear Science and Engineering at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the School of Materials Genome Institute of Shanghai University published a paper in the "Journal of Materials Processing Technology", an international academic journal focusing on materials processing and manufacturing technology, entitled "Enhanced electrical and mechanical properties of additively manufactured pure copper with green laser" (DOI: 10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2024.118615). The objective of this study is to address the issue of high reflection in pure copper through the use of green laser powder bed fusion (GL-PBF) technology. It also examines the key characteristics of copper components, including relative density, surface roughness, mechanical properties, and electrical conductivity. This research aims to fill the gap in the optimization of GL-PBF process parameters for pure copper, providing a framework for laser additive manufacturing of highly reflective metal materials. Moreover, the study demonstrates the exceptional application capabilities of ADDIREEN's green laser metal 3D printing equipment in scientific research, further validating the outstanding performance of GL-PBF technology in the additive manufacturing of copper materials.

In the experiment, the research team used ADDIREEN's XH-M160G green laser (λ = 532 nm) equipment to print pure copper powder. The alignment of the green laser wavelength (approximately 532 nm) with the reflective properties of copper enables the material to absorb laser energy more effectively, resulting in greater melting efficiency and higher uniformity of heat distribution. This contributes to enhanced physical properties of the final product, meeting the requirements of a broader range of applications. The XH-M160G equipment, which features a 500W single-mode continuous fiber laser, has an average spot diameter of 30 μm, and the absorption rate of copper powder is approximately 85%. In this study, the research team fixed the hatch spacing and adjusted parameters such as scanning speed and laser power to observe variations in the microstructure, mechanical properties, and electrical performance of the experimental samples under different conditions. These allow for a systematic exploration of the effects of these factors on material properties.

This study is concerned with the investigation of GL-PBF technology, with a particular focus on the impact of process parameters on the performance of copper components during the manufacturing process. It reveals the critical role these parameters play in the densification, microstructure, surface roughness, mechanical properties, and electrical conductivity of pure copper samples. The results indicate that by optimizing GL-PBF parameters, copper components with a relative density exceeding 99.9% and an electrical conductivity reaching 98% of the International Annealed Copper Standard (IACS) can be achieved. This finding serves to further validate the tremendous potential of green laser technology in the field of additive manufacturing. Additionally, the study combines experimental work with finite element analysis modeling to explore the impact of defect morphology on the electrical conductivity of printed materials. Based on the relationship between electrical conductivity and porosity, several models are proposed, providing new insights into how to control these defects during the additive manufacturing process.