Laser metal deposition of Al 7075: Effects of TiC nanoparticles

High-density defects in additively manufactured components cause poor mechanical properties and premature failure. The present paper aims in minimizing defects in laser metal deposition (LMD) of high-strength aluminium alloy 7075. The effects of different TiC nanoparticle contents on the defects (crack and porosity), microstructural (grain size and morphology) and mechanical (tensile strength and hardness) properties were investigated systematically. The sizes and densities of cracks and surface porosities were reduced by increasing TiC nanoparticle content. The grain areas were reduced and ultimate tensile strength increased by increasing the TiC nanoparticle content. The present results clearly prove that the TiC content plays a substantial role in tailoring microstructure and improving the reliability and mechanical properties of LMD Al alloy 7075.