Abstract
In Laser Metal Deposition (LMD), good bonding between two similar or dissimilar materials
can be achieved if the interrelationships between the processing parameters are well
understood. LMD samples of titanium alloy, Ti-6Al-4V and copper, Cu were produced by
varying the scanning speed and keeping other parameters constant. The deposited samples
were characterized through the volume of deposited composites, microstructure,
microhardness and the degree of porosity. The effect of the optimized high (powder flow
rate) PFR, scanning speed varying from 0.06 m/min to 1.2 m/min and a constant power of
1kW led to a degree of porosity on the deposited composites. The varying percentages of
porosities in the samples have an advance merit effect in the implantation of bones in animal
and human. It was found that the existence of pores reduced as the scanning speed increases.
The Vickers mirohardness was observed to increase with an increase in the scanning speed
which shows an improvement in the properties of the Ti-6Al-4V/Cu composites. At low
scanning velocity, the microstructure appears coarse due to the high rate of powder deposited
at the same power of 1kW. The α-phase acicular microstructure decreases in size and
thickness with an increase in the scanning speed. Widmanstätten structure was found in the
scanning electron microscopy analyses. The results show that high PFR and low scanning
speed have significantly influenced the evolving properties of the deposited composites.