Microstructure of B4C/TiC/TiB2 reinforced surface titanium matrix composite produced by laser cladding

Ti+30%B4C/Ni (nickel-coated boron carbide) was used as cladding material and the titanium metal was prepared on the TC4 titanium alloy substrate by using the unmelted particle reinforced and in-situ autogeneous enhancement technology using a-hundred-watt grade fiber laser heat source to produce the B4C/TiC/TiB2 composite reinforced coating. We analyzed the phase composition, distribution and microstructure characteristics of the coating. The results show that the multicomponent composite strengthening coating prepared by adding B4C/Ni powder is mainly composed of metal-based α-Ti, unmelted particle-phase B4C, in-situ as-grown TiC, TiB2, TiB, and intermetallic Ti2Ni. Each ceramic particle is reinforced and intertwined, depending on growth. With the addition of 30%B4C/Ni, the average microhardness of the coating was 917.7 HV0.3, the coefficient of friction was stable at 0.19-0.22, and the minimum amount of atmospheric wear was 7.2 mg. The coating had good antifriction and wear resistance.