Effects of laser processing parameters on microstructure and mechanical properties of additively manufactured AlSi10Mg alloys reinforced by TiC

AlSi10Mg alloys reinforced by TiC particles were fabricated on 5052 aluminum alloys by laser additive manufacturing. The surface morphology, microstructure, microhardness, and tensile properties of the alloys fabricated with different processing parameters were investigated by optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Vickers hardness tester, and high-precision electronic universal testing machine. The results show that appropriate laser energy input leads to uniform distribution of TiC particles in the alloy. Fine needle-like TiC particles are precipitated from the grain boundary, which is beneficial to the improvement of mechanical properties of the alloy. The optimum process parameters are found to be 2500–3500 W for laser power, 600 mm/min for scanning velocity, and 2.0 mm for hatch spacing. For lower or higher laser energy input, aggregations are formed in the coatings. At the optimum processing parameters, the maximum microhardness and tensile strength of the TiC/AlSi10Mg alloys are much higher than those of others, which are 139.1 HV 0.05 and 278.8 MPa, respectively. A large number of dimples have been found on the fracture surface of the alloys, which indicates the fracture mechanism of the alloy is ductile fracture.