Alloying effect of titanium on WC_P/Al compound fabricated by coincident wire-powder laser deposition

Combined wire and powder deposition by laser (WPDL) has proven to be a promising method for fabricating Metal Matrix Compounds (MMC) structure. In this paper, aluminum matrix compounds were fabricated by WPDL, WC powder was fed from a coaxial nozzle whilst alumium wire was fed from a lateral nozzle into a laser generated melt pool. It was found WC particle had dissolved into aluminum matrix as enforcement phase, which leading to the formation of rod-shaped Al₄W, tiny granule-shaped W₂C and needle-shaped Al₄C₃ in MMC. Existing of needle-shaped Al₄C₃ was harmful for MMC due to its brittle property. Through powder feeding with titanium and WC particles simutanously during WPDL, ideal laminated alumium matrix compounds were produced under the condition of optimized parameters. XRD, SEM, and EDAX were conducted to analysis microstructure of the aluminum matrix compounds. It was found the formation of brittle Al₄C₃ phase was prohibited in MMC due to the alloying effect of titanium element. The phase of MMC was comprised of Al,WC, W,TiAl₃,TiAl, Ti₃Al, Al₄W. Microstructure at the interface between enforcement phase of WC ceramic and aluminum matrix was investigated.