Feasibility Study of Metal Matrix Composite (In625-WC) Manufacturing by Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS®)

The present paper focuses on the technological approach to manufacturing composite in the form of Inconel 625 reinforced with tungsten carbide particles. Twenty-four samples with reinforcement amounts ranging from 30 to 90% (wt.%) and different numbers of deposited layers were manufactured with the use of Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS®). The metallurgical quality, microstructure, chemical and phase composition as well as hardness of the produced composites were determined. Digital microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and SEM-EDS were employed for this purpose. Despite numerous cracks, the fabricated samples exhibited a greater hardness than single-layer coatings of analogous composition also produced by additive techniques. This phenomenon is likely a result of repeated crystallization of the composites in remelted areas. A dual mechanism of material strengthening is observed in the additively manufactured composites, both by the presence of reinforcing particles and precipitates of secondary phases.