Enhanced Microstructure and Wear Resistance of Ti-6Al-4V Alloy with Vanadium Carbide Coating via Directed Energy Deposition.

Ti-6Al-4V alloys are known for their suboptimal tribological properties and are often challenged by durability issues under severe wear conditions. This study was conducted to enhance the alloy's wear resistance by forming a hardened surface layer. Utilizing directed energy deposition (DED) additive manufacturing with a diode laser, vanadium carbide particles were successfully integrated onto a Ti-6Al-4V substrate.