Production of in situ TiB2+TiC/Fe composite coating from precursor containing B4C-TiO2-Al powders by laser cladding

Steel matrix composites reinforced with TiB2+TiC reinforcement were produced by laser melting mixture of B4C, TiO2, Al and Fe-based self-melting alloy powders. The results show that TiB2+TiC ceramic particles were synthesized from the reaction of B4C, TiO2 and Al alloys during laser cladding process. The reinforcement particles were evenly distributed in the coating. TiB2 grew in rectangle shape, but TiC presented irregular cubic shape. The wear resistance of the coating was higher than that of the substrate of 1045 steel; meanwhile, the friction coefficient of the coating was considerably lower than that of 1045 steel.