Characterization of surface roughness of laser deposited titanium alloy and copper using AFM

Laser Metal Deposition (LMD) is the process of using the laser beam of a nozzle to produce a melt pool on a metal surface usually the substrate and metal powder is been deposited into it thereby creating a fusion bond with the substrate to form a new material layer against the force gravity. A good metal laminate is formed when the wettability between the dropping metal powder and the substrate adheres. This paper reports the surface roughness of laser deposited titanium alloy and copper (Ti6Al4V + Cu) using the Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). This AFM is employed in order to sense the surface and produce different manipulated images using the micro-fabricated mechanical tip under a probe cartridge of high resolution. The process parameters employed during the deposition routine determines the output of the deposit. A careful attention is given to the laser deposited Ti6Al4V + Cu samples under the AFM probe because of their single tracked layers with semi-circular pattern of deposition. This research work can be applicable in the surface modification of laser deposited samples for the marine industry.