Substrate Pre-Heating for Enhanced Laser Cladding of Titanium Matrix Composites: Insights from Synchrotron X-Ray Diffraction

The study investigates the effects of substrate preheating temperature on the structural-phase composition and microhardness of titanium matrix composites obtained using direct laser deposition. To fully investigate the substrate heating aspect, synchrotron radiation is employed along with conventional microstructure diagnostics techniques, which allows obtaining information about the structure of the substance at the micro and macro levels. Key findings indicate that preheating of the substrate prevents cracking while changing the structural and phase state, which affects the increased microhardness. The study reveals a direct correlation between the secondary phases (such as TiB, TiB
2
, TiC, and B
4
C) growth and the increase in microhardness of the metallic matrix. The paper also emphasizes the formation of Ti
3
Al intermetallic compound. This research provides critical insights into the relationship between laser processing conditions, microstructure, and mechanical properties of laser-deposited coatings. The novel use of synchrotron radiation paves the way for more detailed and accurate material characterization in material science and surface engineering.