Microstructure characteristics of Ti3Al/TiC ceramic layer deposited by laser cladding

Al + TiC laser cladding coatings were prepared on Ti-6Al-4V alloy by CO₂ laser cladding technique. The microstructure, micro-hardness and phase constitutes of the laser cladding layer were investigated by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and microsclermeter. The results indicated that the laser cladding layer solidified into the fine microstructure rapidly, and TiC hard phase was dispersived in the cladding layer. When the mass percent of TiC was 40%, the micro-hardness (1100HV_0.2-1250HV_0.2) of Al + TiC cladding layer was 3 times more than that of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy substrate (350-370HV_0.2). The cladding layer mainly consisted of α-Ti (Al), β-Al (Ti), Ti₃Al, TiAl, Al₃Ti and TiC phase. There phases were beneficial to improve the hardness and wear resistance of the cladding layer.