Surface hardening of 3D-printed Ti-6Al-4V alloy through complex treatment

Abstract

The object of this work is a study of the microstructure and hardness evolution of LPBF-manufactured biomedical alloy Ti-6Al-4V superficially modified by pack carburization and subsequent laser melting [1]. Ti-6Al-4V alloy specimens of 5x10x25 (mm) in size were fabricated by Laser Powder Bed Fusion process using a “ProX DMP 320” (3D Systems) equipment with a 500 W fibre laser (1070 nm wavelength, 0.5 mm beam diameter). The powder feedstock (particle size is 39±3 μm) was an EOS Titanium Ti64ELI powder of nominal chemical composition (wt. %): Al (5.5-6.75), V (3.5-4.5), O < 0.2, N < 0.05, C < 0.08, H < 0.015, Fe < 0.3, Ti - balance.