Dual-gradient ceramic/aluminum composite structure fabricated by arc additive manufacturing with co-conveying of wire and powder.

We employed a novel technique combining wire and powder co-delivery to fabricate a functionally gradient material (FGM) structure consisting of Al-based composites reinforced with alternating TiC and B₄C particles. The TiC content increases from the bottom up and then decreases, while the B₄C content gradually increases, resulting in a continuous gradient structure. Correspondingly, the grain size of the Al matrix also changes with the variation of ceramic particles, forming a dual-gradient change trend. This FGM structure exhibits a multi-performance balance of strength, ductility, anti-wear and damping properties, making it a promising candidate for the cost-effective application in multi-performance heterostructured components. This article reports a novel technique to manufacture FGM structures using a wire-and-powder co-delivery method. The resulting dual-gradient TiC-B₄C/Al composite structure exhibits a balance of strength, ductility, anti-wear and damping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]