Laser cladding of Ti–6Al–4V with various carbide powders

Laser cladding Ti–6Al–4V can be achieved with various weight percentages of different carbide powders. The microstructure and morphology of the clad layer is determined by the cladding powder composition, for a given set of laser parameters, such that 10 and 20 wt %Cr3C2 results in a β + TiC clad microstructure; 10 and 20 wt %WC results in an α + TiC clad microstructure (plus some original WC); and Mo2C gives an α + β + TiC or β + TiC structure, depending on the weight percentage of Mo2C. The morphology of the TiC in all cases is dendritic or feathery, depending on the carbide content. The microstructure observed in all cases agreed well with that theoretically predicted from the energetics of carbide formation and β-stabilizing properties of each element.