Abstract
Titanium and its alloys have possessed outstanding properties such as high specific strength, good
oxidation and corrosion resistance; which have made them extensively suitable for use in the
aeronautical, medical, automobile, marine and chemical industries. This paper presents the impact of
laser power on the microstructure and the wear properties of titanium matrix Ti-6Al-4V+B4C composites.
The laser powers were varied between 0.8 kW and 2.2 kW while keeping other contributing parameters
constant. The microstructural effects were characterised with increasing α-Ti lamella and coarse
Widmanstettan structures as the laser power was increased; alongside with the inclusion of 20 wt % of
B4C. The mechanical action during wear test has created a loop shape with inner and outer radii on the
surface of the laser deposited composites. The wear thickness, depth and COF were taken into
cognisance; with sample C deposited at a laser power of 1.8 kW and scanning speed of 1 m/min having
the lowest wear loss of 0.119 mm3. The substrate exhibited the shallowest wear depth and the reason is
attributed the compressive nature of the material. The interlace of B4C in the titanium matrix has
improved the properties the laser formed composites.