Growth morphology and mechanism of primary TiC carbide in laser clad TiC/FeAl composite coating

TiC-reinforced FeAl intermetallic matrix composite (IMC) coatings were fabricated on substrate of 1Cr18Ni9Ti stainless steel using laser cladding. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to identify the phases in the laser clad composite coating and the growth morphologies of TiC carbide were observed by optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results showed that there are two phases in the laser clad composite coating: TiC and FeAl intermetallic matrix alloy. The primary TiC carbide in laser clad coating nucleates heterogeneously on the surface of oxide particles; its growth morphology is found to be in a unique radial-branching dendrite with strongly faceted feature. The growth mechanism of TiC is confirmed to be lateral growth from the ledges or steps existing on the growing fronts.