The effect of adding TiB2 to Ti6Al4V using laser in-situ alloying technique during laser metal deposition (LMD)

The microstructure and phase analyses were studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM), Optical microscope (OM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Mechanical tests were conducted using Vickers microhardness, Profilometry-based Indentation Plastometry (PIP) and Universal Tensile Tests. Thermo-Calc software was used to understand phase transformations, composition and transition during laser in-situ alloying process. It was found that the microstructure formation depends on the flow rate of TiB2 and hardness increased with increasing TiB2 flow rate. The composite achieved better strength and elngation at 550 deg/celsius compared to 400 deg/celsius abd 750 deg/celsius.