Objective: This paper provides a brief review of relatively new additive manufacturing technologies for the fabrication of unusual and complex metal and alloy products by laser and electron beam melting. A number of process features and product microstructures are illustrated utilizing 3D optical and transmission electron microscope image compositions representing examples of 3D materials science. Methods: Processing methods involving electron beam melting (EBM) and a process referred to as

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... ct metal laser sintering Este é um artigo Open Access sob a licença de CC BY-NC-ND Fig. 1 Arcam A2 EBM System. Arrow at top right indicates the electron beam melting/processing system. Control unit is at left (DMLS), often called selective laser melting (SLM) are described along with the use of light (optical) microscopy (OM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to elucidate microstructural phenomena. Results: Examples of EBM and SLM studies are presented in 3D image compositions. These include EBM of Ti-6Al-4V, Cu, Co-base superalloy and Inconel 625; and SLM of 17-4 PH stainless steel, Inconel 718 and Inconel 625. Conclusions: 3D image compositions constituting 3D materials science provide effective visualization for directional solidi cation-related phenomena associated with the EBM and SLM fabrication of a range of metals and alloys, especially microstructures and microstructural architectures. KEY WORDS: Laser and electron beam melting; 3D image compositions; Optical and electron microscopy; Metal and alloy fabrication; Microstructures