In this study, Ti6Al4V gas atomized powder (SLM Solutions Group AG, Lübeck, Germany) was used. The chemical composition of virgin powder delivered by the manufacturer is in Table 1 . The powder shape was checked by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) LEO 1450VP (Carl Zeiss AG, Oberkochen, Germany). Figure 1 a shows that the powder particles have a spherical shape with a low amount of satellites. The particles size distribution was analysed by laser diffraction analyser LA-960 (Horiba, Kioto, Japan). Measured particle mean size was 43 µm and median size 40.9 µm. The particles up to 29.97 µm represented 10% of particle distribution while particles up to 58.61 µm represented 90% (Figure 1 b).
The chemical composition of used powder was evaluated by the following methods. The aluminium content was checked by the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Oxygen and nitrogen contents were evaluated by hot extraction in helium by LECO TCH 600 (LECO Corporation, Saint Joseph, MO, USA). The hydrogen concentration was verified by the inert gas fusion thermal conductivity method JUWE H-Mat 2500 (JUWE Laborgeraete GmbH, Viersen, Germany). The accuracy of all methods is Al ±0.327 wt %, O ±0.008 wt % and N ±0.0025 wt %.
The chemical composition of used powder was evaluated by the following methods. The aluminium content was checked by the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Oxygen and nitrogen contents were evaluated by hot extraction in helium by LECO TCH 600 (LECO Corporation, Saint Joseph, MO, USA). The hydrogen concentration was verified by the inert gas fusion thermal conductivity method JUWE H-Mat 2500 (JUWE Laborgeraete GmbH, Viersen, Germany). The accuracy of all methods is Al ±0.327 wt %, O ±0.008 wt % and N ±0.0025 wt %.