Joining dissimilar metal of Ti and CoCrMo using directed energy deposition

We report laser cladding of pure titanium on a CoCrMo alloy using directed energy deposition. Using electron microscopy, the microstructural evolution upon varying the process parameters, especially laser power and powder feed rate, was investigated in relation to crack formation. Cladding layers showing dilution rates of more than 5% contained cracks due to the formation of the brittle Co₂Ti intermetallic phase. The observed cracks could be ascribed to a mismatch in thermal expansion and a resulting stress of more than 440 MPa acting on the Co₂Ti phase, as determined by density functional theory and nanoindentation. Furthermore, an excess laser energy caused chemical inhomogeneity and unmelted Ti powder particles, while a deficient laser energy resulted in a lack of fusion. Neither cracks nor partially melted powders were observed for a powder feed rate of 3 g/min and a laser power of 225–300 W, for which the dilution rate was minimized to less than 5%. For such samples, the cladding layers comprised pure α-Ti and a uniform CoTi interface with Co₂Ti islands.