Microstructure and mechanical properties of an in situ synthesized TiB and TiC reinforced titanium matrix composite coating

A titanium-based composite coating reinforced by in situ synthesized TiB and TiC particles was fabricated on Ti6Al4V by laser cladding. The microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. The coating was mainly composed of α-Ti cellular dendrites and an eutectic in which a large number of rod/needle-shaped TiB and a few equiaxial TiC particles were homogeneously embedded. The microstructural evolution could be divided into four stages: precipitation and growth of primary β-Ti phase, formation of the binary eutectic β-Ti+TiB, formation of the ternary eutectic β-Ti+TiB+TiC, and solid transformation from β-Ti to α-Ti. Microhardness of the coating showed a gradient variation from the surface (about HV0.2 876) to the bottom (about HV0.2 660) and was prominently improved in comparison with that of the substrate. Fracture toughness of the coating also exhibited a gradient variation from the surface (6.3 MPa·m1/2) to the interface (11.9 MPa·m1/2). Wear resistance of the coating was significantly superior to that of Ti6Al4V.