Metal matrix composite layers were formed on an aluminium substrate by means of laser surface alloying method. Aluminium 1200 was used as a host material and TiC particles were used as the reinforcement. The microstructure of the modified layer consisted of the hard particles uniformly distributed in the host metal matrix. A strong bond between the particles and matrix was formed in the modified layer. A Rofin Nd: YAG laser was used for injecting the ceramic powder into the substrate. In these experiments the laser power was varied from 3 to 4.0 kW, the laser scan speed was varied from 0.8 to 2.0 m/min. The powder feed rate was varied from 2 to 5 g/min. The structural characterisation of the metal matrix composite included X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical and scanning electron microscope (SEM) as well as microhardness measurements. The microhardness of the layers increased from 20 HV to 350 HV. This represented a significant improvement of the surface properties compared to the base metal.
Reference:
Pityana, SL. 2009. Hardfacing of aluminium alloys by means of metal matrix composites produced by laser surface alloying. 5th International WLT-Conference on Lasers in Manufacturing. Munich, Germany, 15-18 June 2009, pp 439-444
Pityana, S. L. (2009). Hardfacing of aluminium alloys by means of metal matrix composites produced by laser surface alloying. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3859
Pityana, Sisa L. "Hardfacing of aluminium alloys by means of metal matrix composites produced by laser surface alloying." (2009): http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3859
Pityana SL, Hardfacing of aluminium alloys by means of metal matrix composites produced by laser surface alloying; 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3859 .