Effect of heat treatment on anisotropy of GH3536 superalloy prepared by laser powder bed fusion process

The solid-solution–strengthened GH3536 superalloy fabricated by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is widely used in aerospace, but its inherent anisotropy limits industrial performance. This study investigated the effects of two heat treatments, HIP + double aging (HA) and HIP + solution + double aging (HSA), on mechanical anisotropy of LPBF-GH3536 along and perpendicular to the deposition direction. Results show that the HSA superalloy exhibits obvious anisotropy with higher tensile strength in the transverse direction. In contrast, HSA treatment significantly weakens anisotropy by inducing recrystallization of columnar grains along the build direction, leading to similar tensile properties in both orientations. This work deepens the understanding of anisotropic behavior and provides guidance for heat treatment design of LPBF nickel-based superalloys.​