Characterization of gradient CuAl–B4C composites additively manufactured using a combination of wire-feed and powder-bed electron beam deposition methods

A combination of wire-feed and powder-bed electron beam additive deposition was applied for fabricating a gradient heterogeneous and wear-resistant CuAl–B4C multilayer composite with two different contents of the boron carbide particles. To improve the CuAl alloy wetting ability on the carbide powder bed, the latter was admixed with aluminum powder. A gradient distribution of the boron carbide in the aluminum bronze matrix was achieved for composites with 50 and 25 vol% B4C, which were characterized by microhardness, coefficient of friction, and wear resistance. The 50 vol% B4C sample demonstrated higher hardness but lower wear resistance against and coefficient of friction as compared to those of 25 vol% B4C one, when reciprocally rubbed against a 52,100 steel ball. •A combination of wire-feed and powder-bed methods was used to make CuAl–B4C composite.•Fully dense composites were obtained with gradient B4C concentration.•The hardness of printed composites is determined by the content of B4C particles.•Wear of the printed composite is 2.2 times lower than of printed CuAl bronze.