Experimental Analysis of Functionally Graded Materials Using Laser Metal Deposition Process (Case Study)

In this chapter, a case study on the laser metal deposition (LMD) process of functionally graded material (FGM) of titanium-alloy composite is presented. A functionally graded composite material of an important titanium alloy—Ti64/TiC or Ti6Al4V/TiC was fabricated using the LMD process with the different TiC percentage. The TiC of up to 50 W.% on the Ti64 substrate was produced. The first layer of the FGM is 100% Ti64; the next layer consists of a mixture of 95% and 5% TiC. The percentage of Ti64 was continuously reduced by 5% and the percentage of TiC increased by 5% in the mixture for each subsequent layer up to the last layer of 50% Ti64 and 50% of TiC. The microstructure, the mechanical, and the tribological properties of the produced FGM were studied using an optical microscope, a microhardness tester, and the wear tester. The microstructure of the fabricated FGM showed a continuous microstructure, without any sharp interface between the substrate and the deposited layers. To compare the properties of the FGM produced, a traditional composite of Ti64/TiC was also produced, using the LMD process. The properties of the FGM, the composite and the substrate are compared; and the results are presented and discussed in this chapter. The results indicate that the microstructure of the traditional composite showed a sharp interface between the deposited layers and the substrate. The fabricated FGM has improved mechanical and tribological properties, compared with the conventional composite and the Ti64 substrate.