Selective laser melting of TiC/Ti bulk nanocomposites: Influence of nanoscale reinforcement

Selective laser melting (SLM), as a new production route, was applied to prepare nanocrystalline TiC-reinforced Ti matrix nanocomposites. The microstructural and mechanical properties of SLM-processed nanocomposites were sensitive to the nanoscale TiC addition. The optimal TiC content was determined to be 12.5 wt.%, and the homogeneously dispersed TiC reinforcement had a nanoscale lamellar structure that was completely different to the starting nanoparticle morphology. The 98.3% dense TiC/Ti nanocomposites had an elevated microhardness 577HV0.2, a considerably low coefficient of friction 0.19, and a reduced wear rate 2.3 × 10−16 m3 N−1 m−1 lap−1.