Abstract
Ti6Al4V alloy is a well-known material for biomedical application due to the very excellent
corrosion resistance it possessed. Copper is an excellent antimicrobial property and has been found
to stabilize the immune system of the body activities. In this present study, laser metal deposition
of Ti6Al4V/Cu composites have been conducted by varying the laser power between 600 W and
1800 W while the scanning speed of 0.005 m/s and other process parameters as depicted in the
experimental matrix were kept constant. Widmanstettan structures were observed in all the
samples at high magnification and lose their coarseness as the laser power increases. The
microhardness values of the deposited composites were varied between HV335 ± 27 μm and
HV490 ± 73 μm. The surface behaviour and the morphologies of the composites were evaluated
under the SEM after soaking for 2 weeks. The simulated body fluid (hank’s solution) was
maintained at normal body temperature of about 37±1oC. The surfaces showed fracture topography
with porous bone-like and snowflake structures.