Influence of Laser Power on Improving the Wear Properties of Laser-Deposited Ti-6Al-4V+B4C Composite

2018 Strojniski vestnik  
Titanium and its alloys have possessed outstanding properties such as high specific strength, good oxidation and corrosion resistance; which have made them extensively suitable for use in the aeronautical, medical, automobile, marine and chemical industries. This paper presents the impact of laser power on the microstructure and the wear properties of titanium matrix Ti-6Al-4V+B 4 C composites. The laser power was varied from 0.8 kW to 2.2 kW while keeping other contributing parameters
more » ... The microstructural effects were characterized by increasing α-Ti lamella and coarse Widmanstettan structures as the laser power was increased, with the inclusion of 20 wt % of B 4 C. The mechanical action during wear test has created a loop shape with inner and outer radii on the surface of the laser-deposited composites. The wear thickness, depth and COF were taken into account; with the sample C deposited at a laser power of 1.8 kW and scanning speed of 1 m/min having the lowest wear loss of 0.119 mm 3 . The substrate exhibited the shallowest wear depth, and the reason is attributed to the compressive nature of the material. The interlace of B 4 C in the titanium matrix has improved the properties of the laser-formed composites. Keywords: laser metal deposition, microstructure, wear measurement, Ti-6Al-4V+B 4 C composite Highlights • The robustness of the α/β phase increases as the laser power is increased. • The mean wear thicknesses of the laser-deposited samples are varied from 0.309 mm and 0.504 mm. • The entire laser-deposited samples experience a rise in the COF and later maintain steadiness between 0.35 and 0.5. • The radii of the wear tracks and the mean wear depth have a significant effect on the wear loss.
doi:10.5545/sv-jme.2018.5362 fatcat:hogpyffy6nfytn2h52emjixqmi