Microstructural analysis of TiC reinforced ferrous surface composites processed by accelerated electron beam irradiation

The present study aims to analyze microstructures of TiC reinforced ferrous surface composites processed by accelerated electron beam irradiation. Two kinds of powder/flux mixtures, i.e., TiC and (Ti + C) powders with 40 wt% of CaF2 flux, were deposited evenly on an AISI 304 stainless steel substrate, which was then irradiated with electron beam. TiC agglomerates and pores were found in the surface composite specimen processed by irradiation of TiC powders because of insufficient melting of TiC powders. In the specimen processed by irradiation of Ti and C powders having lower melting points than TiC powders, a lot of large TiC carbides were precipitated in the melted region, together with a few TiC agglomerates or pores. This indicated the more effective TiC precipitation obtained from the melting of Ti and C powders, instead of TiC powders. The hardness of the surface composite layer was about two times higher than that of the AISI 304 substrate mainly due to the precipitation of TiC carbides.