Graphene Reinforced Ti6Al4V Matrix Composites: Powder Preparation and Selective Laser Melting (SLM)
Y.H. Zhao, L. Gao, Z.Y. Zhao, L. LI and B. Han
Graphene/Ti6Al4V matrix composite powder was prepared by vacuum ball milling. Thereafter a graphene/Ti6Al4V matrix composite was prepared by selective laser melting (SLM) using a Yb fibre laser. With the increase of milling time, the distribution of graphene was gradually homogeneous. Increasing the ball to powder ratio improved the dispersion of graphene, but the Ti6Al4V powders were deformed when the ball to powder ratio exceeded 8:1. The graphene was gradually dispersed evenly with the increase of the ball milling rotational speed. The optimum parameters of ball milling time, ball to powder ratio, ball milling rotational speed were 3 hours, 8:1, 240 rpm. After optimizing SLM processes, when the laser power was 250 W, the point distance was 65 μm, and the exposure time was 60 μs, the graphene/Ti6Al4V matrix composite was prepared.
Keywords: Yb fibre laser, graphene, Ti6Al4V, powder, selective laser melting (SLM), vacuum ball milling, point distance, exposure time