This study demonstrates that low?frequency vibration (0–100?Hz) during laser wire additive manufacturing significantly refines grains (31.21% size reduction), enhances surface hardness (+11.95%), and reduces friction coefficients (dry: ?12.64%; oil?lubricated: ?14.23%) in Inconel 601 thin?walled components, providing a novel strategy for aerospace tribological applications.This study systematically investigates the effects of low?frequency vibration (0–100?Hz, 12??m amplitude) on the tribological performance of thin?walled Inconel 601 components fabricated via laser wire additive manufacturing (LWAM). A CW1000T single?mode fiber laser is used for the experiments. Key process parameters, including scanning speed (2.5?mm?s?1), interlayer dwell time (10 s), and vibration frequency, are analyzed to quantify their impacts on microstructural evolution and wear behavior. Results demonstrate that 100?Hz vibration achieved optimal grain refinement (31.21% size reduction: from 7.53 to 5.18??m), enhanced surface properties (hardness: from 251 to 281 HV, +11.95%; roughness Ra: from 3.85 to 3.02??m, ?21.56%; hydrophobicity: contact angle from 67.06° to 81.07°, +20.89%), and significantly improved tribology. Scanning direction, the friction coefficients decreased by 12.64% under dry conditions and by 14.23% with oil lubrication. Meanwhile, the wear rates reduced by 26.24% and 26.46%, respectively. Deposition direction exhibited similar enhancements. Mechanistically, vibration?induced melt pool agitation disrupted dendritic growth, promoted equiaxed nucleation, and improved microstructural homogeneity through accelerated elemental diffusion and dislocation rearrangement. These findings provide quantitative guidelines for optimizing vibration?assisted LWAM of nickel superalloys in aerospace thin?walled applications.

» Author: Guiling Hu, Qigao Feng, Cuiya Feng, Bin Zhang, Lijie Ma, Minghua Pang

» Publication Date: 10/06/2025

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