Inconel 718 superalloy cylindrical rods were fabricated using the laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) technology in the vertical orientation. The rods were stress-relieved at 980 °C for 15 min before cutting them from the build plate. The microstructure in this condition exhibited a significant amount of undesirable needle-like δ-phase precipitates and a small amount of interdendritic Laves phase that is finer in size. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was used to determine the temperatures for solid-state phase transformations and appropriate temperature for solution-treatment. Solution-treatment was performed at 1065 °C for 1 h, followed by air cooling. The microstructures were characterized with specific reference to δ-phase and Nb segregation. Solution-treatment at 1065 °C was found to result in a significant elimination of micro-segregation (mainly Nb), complete dissolution of δ phase, considerable Laves dissolution, and partly undissolved carbide particles (few nm in size). Solution-treatment did not produce a significant change in the grain morphology (columnar dendritic) on a plane parallel to the build direction but more recrystallized and equiaxed grains were formed on a plane perpendicular to the build direction. The hardness of the solution-treated sample is comparable with wrought 718 alloys but lesser (115 HV) than in the stress-relieved condition attributing to the annihilation of dislocation tangles.

The present study investigated the interaction between starch and lipid accumulation in a green microalgae enrichment culture. The objective was to optimize the lipid content by manipulation of the medium in regular batch culture. Two medium designs were evaluated: First a high ortho-P concentration with vitamin supplementary (Pi-vitamins supplemented medium), second normal growth medium (control). Both media contained a low amount of nitrogen which was consumed during batch growth in three days. The batch experiments continued for another 4 days with the absence of soluble nitrogen in the medium. When the mixed microalgal culture was incubated in the Pi-vitamin supplemented medium, the lipid, and starch content of the culture increased within the first 3 days to 102.0 ± 5.2 mg/L (12.7 ± 0.6% of DW) and 31.7 ± 1.6 mg/L (4.0 ± 0.2% of DW), respectively. On the last day of the experiment, the lipid, and starch content in Pi-vitamin medium increased to 663.1 ± 32.5 mg/L (33.4 ± 1.6% of DW) and 127.5 ± 5.2 mg/L (6.4 ± 0.3% of DW). However, the lipid and starch content in the control process, reached to 334.7 ± 16.4 mg/L (20.1 ± 1.0% of DW) and 94.3 ± 4.6 mg/L (5.7 ± 0.3% of DW), respectively. The high Pi-vitamin medium induced storing lipid formation clearly while the starch formation was not affected. The lipid contents reported here are among the high reported in the literature, note that already under full growth conditions significant lipid levels occurred in the algal enrichment culture. The high lipid productivity of the reported mixed microalgae culture provides an efficient route for efficient algal biodiesel production.