Influence of dynamical analysis of laser power on titanium alloy with boron carbide (Ti6Al4V-B4C) metal matrix composites

Abstract: LMD process is a means of producing metal composites with the aid of laser beam and powder fusing together. In this research work, Ti6Al4V alloy is fused with 10 wt % of B4C in order to form metal matrix composites (MMCs), and using the Ytterbium Fibre Laser System powdered at 3000 W. The laser powers were varied between 800 W and 2400 W while all other supporting process parameters were kept constant. The deposited composites were characterized through the surfacing microstructure, microhardness and dry sliding wear. The microstructural properties of the deposited samples were profound with α-Ti, β-Ti and intermetallic phase of (α+β) of titanium alloy and boron carbide particles. The microhardness tests revealed that the composites deposited with a laser power of 2000 W exhibited the highest hardness value of HV 471. Furthermore characterisation revealed that the sample produced with the laser power of 800 W produced the lowest wear loss and wear rate of 35.2 x 10-3 mm3 and 6.42 x 10-4 mm3/Nm. However, this paper presents a detailed study on the LMD of Ti6Al4V-B4C composites in order to improve the material properties for surface engineering applications