Surface Hardening of CP Ti by Laser Hardening and Development of Ti/TiC Surface Composite by Laser Sintering Technique for Wear Resistant Surface

This study deals with the hardening of titanium surface by carburising of CP Ti Gr 2 substrate by using laser sintering process. The objective of this project is to harden the surface to improve surface wear resistance of titanium. In this study graphite powder is used as source of Carbon. Carbon from graphite reacts with titanium and TiC layer of 109 micron was measured on the titanium surface. The microstructure and phase analysis results show that presence of only TiC phase on the surface of the titanium substrate. TiC grains are nearly 5 times finer than titanium substrate grains. Grain refinement of TiC phase all over the surface of the substrate resulted in increase in hardness and development of significant wear resistance surface in titanium substrate. Hardness of TiC layer was found to be 2191Hv which is nearly ten times higher than the substrate titanium. Wear test results of pin and disc type shows negligible wear rate as compared to CP Ti substrate. TiC grains are nearly 5 times finer than titanium substrate grains.