Preparation of In Situ Synthesis TiC/Ti6Al4V Composite Powder with Homogeneous Dispersion by Electrode Induction Gas Atomization Method

A novel in situ synthesis TiC/Ti6Al4V composite powder was prepared by electrode induction gas atomization. The particle size, particle size distribution, morphology, flowability, and microstructure of the developed composite powders are systematically investigated. Results show that the volume median diameter (D-V50), flowability, and apparent density of the atomized TiC/Ti6Al4V composite powder were 60.8 mu m, 27.10 s/50 g, and 2.38 g cm(-3), respectively. The morphology of the composite powder was basically spherical, but there were some irregular powders. The atomized composite powder was mainly composed of alpha-Ti and TiC phases. No TiC particles were found to adhere to or agglomerate on the surface of the composite powder. The TiC reinforcing phase was homogeneously distributed in the composite powder, and its size can reach submicron and even nanoscale. This method can prepare the composite powders with distinctive submicron and/or nanoscale TiC reinforcing phases, which play an important role in improving the properties of additive manufacturing processed composites.