Microstructure, mechanical, and corrosion resistance of copper nickel alloy fabricated by wire-arc additive manufacturing

Copper-nickel alloys were obtained by wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) and thoroughly analyzed spectro- and microscopically. Mechanical (microhardness, tensile, and impact strength) and corrosion resistance properties were also tested. The Cu-Ni alloy samples were very uniform, with minimum defects, and contained large crystals and single-phase solid solution. The microhardness distribution in the transverse and longitudinal directions was uniform. The regular and breakdown corrosion potentials of the Cu-Ni alloy fabricated by WAAM were equal to - 211 and 17 mV, respectively, while the resistance was 7.6 Omega cm(2). The Cu-Ni alloys produced by WAAM are excellent compared to conventionally manufactured.