This study involves the addition of B4C particles to TC4 powder to fabricate B4C-reinforced titanium matrix composite coatings on an AISI 304L substrate using a laser cladding process. The effects of B4C addition (0–12 wt.%) on microstructure, microhardness, wear, and corrosion performance were systematically investigated. Results indicate that the composite coating with 9 wt.% B4C exhibits optimal properties, achieving a peak microhardness of 600 HV0.2 and a wear rate of 2.82 × 10−4 mm3/N·m, representing a 58.22% reduction compared to the pure TC4 coating. Electrochemical tests in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution reveal a significant positive shift in corrosion potential and reduced corrosion current density with increasing B4C content, confirming enhanced corrosion resistance, and the improved performance is attributed to grain refinement and dispersion strengthening by B4C particles. This work provides a feasible strategy for enhancing the surface properties of 304L stainless steel under demanding wear and corrosive environments.
Bai et al. (Thu,) studied this question.