Laser remelting of Al-Fe-TiO3 composite powder incorporated in a aluminium matrix

Purpose: This paper describes the process of a laser beam effect on aluminium composite powders with iron titanium oxide. Design/methodology/approach: The powder was obtained by mechanical agglomeration. The fraction of oxide phases reinforcing the aluminium matrix amounted to 30 wt.%. It was assumed in the material and technological conception that the structure of the powders would change and intermetallic phases as well as aluminium oxide would be formed in aluminium matrix. The structure of the powders and of the connections with the metallic matrix was analyzed by optics and scanning microscopy methods, and X-ray microanalysis. Findings: The correlation of the structure of powders remelted with the substrate was determined, depending on the laser beam intensity. There were aluminium oxide and respective intermetallic phases from the Al-Fe-Ti system present in the eutectic, inhomogeneous structures. Research limitations/implications: The interaction of high energetic laser beam with the reactive composite powders is a very complex process. Laser parameters process such as density of laser energy the time of interactions could be optimized to o find the operational laser parameter window for satisfactory remelting of the AlFeTiO3 composite. Originality/value: The research results characterize the multiphase ceramic matrix composite structure of connections formed by the interaction of high intensity CO2 laser beam with the reactive powder.