Laser directed energy deposition of heteroarchitected Ti6Al4V composites: In-situ TiB/TiC network engineering for multi-mechanistic strength-ductility synergy
Achieving an optimal balance between strength and ductility in titanium matrix composites (TMCs) remains a critical challenge. This study presents a novel approach to fabricate heterostructure (TiB + TiC)/Ti6Al4V composites via laser-directed energy deposition (LDED) with B4C-derived in-situ reinfor...
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Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Materials Research and Technology |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425017661 |
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| author | Shenghao Hu Chengfang Chai Shuai Guo Fengxian Li Yichun Liu Jianhong Yi Jie Yu Jürgen Eckert |
| author_facet | Shenghao Hu Chengfang Chai Shuai Guo Fengxian Li Yichun Liu Jianhong Yi Jie Yu Jürgen Eckert |
| author_sort | Shenghao Hu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Achieving an optimal balance between strength and ductility in titanium matrix composites (TMCs) remains a critical challenge. This study presents a novel approach to fabricate heterostructure (TiB + TiC)/Ti6Al4V composites via laser-directed energy deposition (LDED) with B4C-derived in-situ reinforcement. High-energy laser irradiation triggers an in-situ reaction between nano-B4C and Ti6Al4V, forming a three-dimensional network of rod-like TiB whiskers and equiaxed TiC nanoparticles within a refined α-Ti matrix. Microstructural characterization reveals that increasing B4C content (0–1 wt%) induced microstructural hierarchy through dual-phase (α+β) matrix refinement (α-lath reduction: 7.79 → 6.89 μm) and reinforcement architecture optimization, achieving 96.2 % high-angle grain boundaries and ceramic network continuity. The heterostructure facilitates synergistic deformation mechanisms: TiB + TiC networks facilitate efficient load transfer and dislocation accumulation; preserved α-Ti domains accommodate plastic strain, and Thermal mismatch-induced geometrically necessary dislocations enhance back-stress hardening. Mechanical testing demonstrates superior strength-ductility synergy. The 1 wt% B4C composite achieves a tensile strength of 997.21 MPa (20.97 % vs. Ti matrix) while retaining a uniform elongation of 9.14 %, surpassing conventional trade-offs in particle-reinforced TMCs. Quantitative strengthening analysis reveals synergistic contributions from Hall-Petch refinement, Orowan looping, and solid solution effects, while EBSD-validated strain delocalization mechanisms mitigate early fracture. This work establishes LDED-enabled heterostructuring as a transformative pathway for developing damage-tolerant TMCs, achieving an unprecedented combination of specific strength and damage absorption capacity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-813b9b98e684424c99ce19d368f04fda |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2238-7854 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Materials Research and Technology |
| spelling | doaj-art-813b9b98e684424c99ce19d368f04fda2025-08-20T03:08:18ZengElsevierJournal of Materials Research and Technology2238-78542025-07-01375187520210.1016/j.jmrt.2025.07.108Laser directed energy deposition of heteroarchitected Ti6Al4V composites: In-situ TiB/TiC network engineering for multi-mechanistic strength-ductility synergyShenghao Hu0Chengfang Chai1Shuai Guo2Fengxian Li3Yichun Liu4Jianhong Yi5Jie Yu6Jürgen Eckert7School of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, China; Corresponding author.School of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, China; Corresponding author.School of Materials Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, China; Corresponding author.Erich Schmid Institute of Materials Science, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Jahnstraße 12, A-8700, Leoben, AustriaAchieving an optimal balance between strength and ductility in titanium matrix composites (TMCs) remains a critical challenge. This study presents a novel approach to fabricate heterostructure (TiB + TiC)/Ti6Al4V composites via laser-directed energy deposition (LDED) with B4C-derived in-situ reinforcement. High-energy laser irradiation triggers an in-situ reaction between nano-B4C and Ti6Al4V, forming a three-dimensional network of rod-like TiB whiskers and equiaxed TiC nanoparticles within a refined α-Ti matrix. Microstructural characterization reveals that increasing B4C content (0–1 wt%) induced microstructural hierarchy through dual-phase (α+β) matrix refinement (α-lath reduction: 7.79 → 6.89 μm) and reinforcement architecture optimization, achieving 96.2 % high-angle grain boundaries and ceramic network continuity. The heterostructure facilitates synergistic deformation mechanisms: TiB + TiC networks facilitate efficient load transfer and dislocation accumulation; preserved α-Ti domains accommodate plastic strain, and Thermal mismatch-induced geometrically necessary dislocations enhance back-stress hardening. Mechanical testing demonstrates superior strength-ductility synergy. The 1 wt% B4C composite achieves a tensile strength of 997.21 MPa (20.97 % vs. Ti matrix) while retaining a uniform elongation of 9.14 %, surpassing conventional trade-offs in particle-reinforced TMCs. Quantitative strengthening analysis reveals synergistic contributions from Hall-Petch refinement, Orowan looping, and solid solution effects, while EBSD-validated strain delocalization mechanisms mitigate early fracture. This work establishes LDED-enabled heterostructuring as a transformative pathway for developing damage-tolerant TMCs, achieving an unprecedented combination of specific strength and damage absorption capacity.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425017661Laser-directed energy deposition (LDED)(TiB+TiC)/Ti6Al4VHeterostructureMechanical properties |
| spellingShingle | Shenghao Hu Chengfang Chai Shuai Guo Fengxian Li Yichun Liu Jianhong Yi Jie Yu Jürgen Eckert Laser directed energy deposition of heteroarchitected Ti6Al4V composites: In-situ TiB/TiC network engineering for multi-mechanistic strength-ductility synergy Journal of Materials Research and Technology Laser-directed energy deposition (LDED) (TiB+TiC)/Ti6Al4V Heterostructure Mechanical properties |
| title | Laser directed energy deposition of heteroarchitected Ti6Al4V composites: In-situ TiB/TiC network engineering for multi-mechanistic strength-ductility synergy |
| title_full | Laser directed energy deposition of heteroarchitected Ti6Al4V composites: In-situ TiB/TiC network engineering for multi-mechanistic strength-ductility synergy |
| title_fullStr | Laser directed energy deposition of heteroarchitected Ti6Al4V composites: In-situ TiB/TiC network engineering for multi-mechanistic strength-ductility synergy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Laser directed energy deposition of heteroarchitected Ti6Al4V composites: In-situ TiB/TiC network engineering for multi-mechanistic strength-ductility synergy |
| title_short | Laser directed energy deposition of heteroarchitected Ti6Al4V composites: In-situ TiB/TiC network engineering for multi-mechanistic strength-ductility synergy |
| title_sort | laser directed energy deposition of heteroarchitected ti6al4v composites in situ tib tic network engineering for multi mechanistic strength ductility synergy |
| topic | Laser-directed energy deposition (LDED) (TiB+TiC)/Ti6Al4V Heterostructure Mechanical properties |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425017661 |
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