Effect of TiC Reinforcement on the Microstructure, Hardness, and Electrochemical Corrosion Behavior of Laser-Clad Ti6Al4V Alloys

Ganjali, Monireh; Ganjali, Mansoureh; Karimian, Pouya; Moradbeyki, Keyvan

doi:10.30501/acp.2026.590592.1201

Effect of TiC Reinforcement on the Microstructure, Hardness, and Electrochemical Corrosion Behavior of Laser-Clad Ti6Al4V Alloys

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

Monireh Ganjali ¹

Mansoureh Ganjali ²

Pouya Karimian ³

Keyvan Moradbeyki ⁴

¹ Associate Professor, Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials Department, Materials and Energy Reseearch Center (MERC), Karaj, Iran.

² Instructor, Nour zoha Materials Engineering Research Group (NMERG), Tehran, Iran.

³ PhD/ student, Ceramics Department, Materials and Energy Reseearch Center (MERC), Karaj, Iran.

⁴ Ms studennt, Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Materials and Energy Reseearch Center (MERC), Karaj, Iran.

10.30501/acp.2026.590592.1201

Abstract

Various coatings are commonly applied to titanium alloys to enhance their corrosion resistance for industrial applications. This study investigates the fabrication of TiC-reinforced coatings on Ti6Al4V substrates via laser cladding using TiC powder feedstocks. The research focuses on the influence of these coatings on phase constituents, microstructural evolution, and electrochemical corrosion resistance. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that the addition of TiC significantly refined the crystalline grains within the coating matrix. The electrochemical behavior of uncoated Ti6Al4V and TiC/Ti6Al4V coatings was evaluated at room temperature in a sodium chloride solution. Corrosion parameters, specifically the corrosion potential (Ecorr) and corrosion current density (Icorr), were analyzed, and cathodic and anodic Tafel extrapolation was employed to determine the polarization resistance and corrosion rate. The results indicate that the TiC/Ti6Al4V coating exhibits superior corrosion resistance compared to the base alloy, confirming the enhanced protective performance of the composite. Additionally, the microhardness of the material increased significantly from 302 to 598 HV, demonstrating a simultaneous improvement in both mechanical and electrochemical properties.

Keywords

TiC Powder

Ti6Al4V Alloy

Laser Cladding

Coating

Corrosion Resistance

Microhardness

Subjects

Coatings

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