Dissolution precipitation mechanism of TiC/Ti composite layer produced by laser cladding

TiC reinforced Ti matrix composite layer was fabricated by laser cladding of Ti and TiC powder mixture on Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Dissolution precipitation mechanism was speculated to illustrate the formation of TiC dendrite in the composite layer. Microstructure evolution of the composite layer has been explained by this mechanism. The composite incorporates the advantages of external particle composites and in situ synthesised particle composites. This mechanism offers an alternative novel idea for the design of bulk composites as well as composite layers. The composite layer exhibits high hardness and excellent wear resistance.