Microstructure Evaluation of the Potential of Additive Manufactured Dissimilar Titanium-Aluminum Alloys

Pure titanium (Ti) ERTi-2 was accumulated on an aluminum (Al) alloy ER5356 component via wire and arc additive manufacturing. The effect of processing parameters, mainly the input heat per unit length, on Ti/Al components was investigated. The microstructure of the Ti deposited layer and the Ti/Al reaction layer was analyzed using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and an X-ray diffractometer. The fabrication of the surface layer equivalent to pure Ti as the used wire or Ti-Al alloy on the Al alloy components was achieved under low and high input heat conditions, respectively, although the Ti/Al components had low joinability and cracks at the reaction layer. Finally, the potential of additive-manufactured Ti/Al components with reference to our results and previous reports was discussed.