In-Situ Formation of Titanium Boride and Titanium Carbide by Selective Laser Melting

In the present study the Selective Laser Melting of a high-energy ball milled Ti - B4C powder blend was performed. The mixing ratio of the powder blend was settled to fulfill the reaction 3 Ti + B4C→ TiC + 2 TiB 2. The in-situ synthesis of intermediate phases was performed by single line welding experiments on a pure titanium substrate. Phase identification by X-ray diffraction gave no indication for the formation of new phases due to the mixing of the powder in the ball mill. However, within the weld seam the XRD analysis proved the existence of Ti 2 C and TiB.