Microstructure and wear resistance of laser deposited Ti₃Co₂Si-Ti₅Si₃-TiCo multiphase intermetallic alloy

A wear resistant Ti₃Co₂Si-Ti₅Si₃-TiCo multiphase intermetallic alloy was fabricated by the laser melt deposition process. Microstructure of the intermetallic alloy was characterized by OM, SEM, XRD and EDS. The alloy has excellent wear resistance and extremely low load-sensitivity of wear under dry sliding wear test conditions. Wear resistance of the alloy is up to 6-24 times higher than the hardened high-carbon low-alloys tool steel 1.0%C-1.5%Cr. The excellent wear resistance of the alloy is attributed to the combination of high hardness of the Ti₃Co₂Si and Ti₅Si₃, good toughness of TiCo and the formation of a smearing-layer on the worn surface of the alloy under room-temperature dry sliding wear test conditions.