TY - JOUR

T1 - Development of metal matrix composites by direct energy deposition of ‘satellited’ powders

AU - Farayibi, P.K.

AU - Abioye, T.E.

AU - Kennedy, A.

AU - Clare, A.T.

N1 - This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Manufacturing Processes. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Manufacturing Processes, 45, 2019 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmapro.2019.07.029

PY - 2019/9/1

Y1 - 2019/9/1

N2 - Limited research has been undertaken investigating the material design freedoms that are granted through the use of additive manufacturing methods, especially in the development of materials specifically formulated for additive processes. In this study, a new material combination was evaluated for use with directed energy deposition methods of additive manufacturing. Here, a Ti-6Al-4 V powder is processed in combination with a much finer titanium diboride powder following a satelliting procedure. The resulting combination consists of large Ti-6Al-4 V particles encased in finer titanium diboride. Deposited composites presented exhibit TiB needles associated with increased hardness. Processing conditions were detailed which permit the deposition of the prepared feedstock onto Ti-6Al-4 V substrates. Microstructural characterisation revealed that the composite was made up of eutectic TiB precipitates dispersed in α-β Ti matrix with few partially melted Ti-6Al-4 V and TiB2 particles. Satelliting TiB2 powder onto Ti-6Al-4 V particle surfaces has significantly improved the homogeneity of composite which is characterised with randomly oriented and uniform distribution of TiB needles in the microstructure. Hardness of composites ranged between 440–480 HV. Hence, the feedstock preparation method proposed has been found to be effective and can be adapted for low cost and rapid formulation of a host of materials for processing by additive manufacture.

AB - Limited research has been undertaken investigating the material design freedoms that are granted through the use of additive manufacturing methods, especially in the development of materials specifically formulated for additive processes. In this study, a new material combination was evaluated for use with directed energy deposition methods of additive manufacturing. Here, a Ti-6Al-4 V powder is processed in combination with a much finer titanium diboride powder following a satelliting procedure. The resulting combination consists of large Ti-6Al-4 V particles encased in finer titanium diboride. Deposited composites presented exhibit TiB needles associated with increased hardness. Processing conditions were detailed which permit the deposition of the prepared feedstock onto Ti-6Al-4 V substrates. Microstructural characterisation revealed that the composite was made up of eutectic TiB precipitates dispersed in α-β Ti matrix with few partially melted Ti-6Al-4 V and TiB2 particles. Satelliting TiB2 powder onto Ti-6Al-4 V particle surfaces has significantly improved the homogeneity of composite which is characterised with randomly oriented and uniform distribution of TiB needles in the microstructure. Hardness of composites ranged between 440–480 HV. Hence, the feedstock preparation method proposed has been found to be effective and can be adapted for low cost and rapid formulation of a host of materials for processing by additive manufacture.

KW - Ti-6Al-4V

KW - TiB whiskers

KW - Additive manufacture

KW - Metal matrix composite

KW - Powder satelliting

KW - Direct energy deposition

KW - TiB2

U2 - 10.1016/j.jmapro.2019.07.029

DO - 10.1016/j.jmapro.2019.07.029

M3 - Journal article

VL - 45

SP - 429

EP - 437

JO - Journal of Manufacturing Processes

JF - Journal of Manufacturing Processes

SN - 1878-6642

ER -