This study investigates multi material additive manufacturing by using materials with different compatibilities. multi material processing plays a significant role for creating parts with different properties or for adjusting characteristics of materials by alloying. Functionally graded material, sharp interfaces or alloys are variations multi material processing.


However, multi material additive manufacturing still faces challenges due to differences in material properties and element characteristics that must be understood.


To investigate the procedure behind multi material additive manufacturing it is important to downscale the process. A fundamental aspect is the material intermixing that takes place for graded and sharp interfaces as much as for alloying.


During the experiments different material combinations with different degree of miscibility and compatibility have been processed. Therefore, the material ratio of each were changed to study the impact on the melt pool and laser parameter. The experiments were observed with high-speed camera to gain information of melt pool phenomena and influence of different laser parameters and material ratios. Further analysis gives insight in phase separation and distribution and microstructural characteristics.  


The results show significant impacts of different ratios on the melt pool behavior and laser parameter selection depending on the material combinations. The changes result in different melt pool stabilities and properties such as viscosity, solubility, and absorptivity of laser radiation. Depending on the material combination, exothermal reactions can occur. The high-speed imaging showed changes in melt pool size, heated regions, melt flow and reactivity with different materials.