The influence of technological parameters of the laser engineered net shaping process on the quality of the formed object from titanium alloy VT23

Introduction. Laser engineered net shaping (LENS) or Direct metal deposition (DMD) is considered as a promising method for manufacturing products of complex configurations from titanium-based alloys, as it allows minimizing the use of machining and loss of material to waste. Currently, neither the LENS technological process of titanium alloy VT23 has not been developed, nor the structural features of the alloy after LENS have not been studied, which will make it possible to determine the scope of application of the material after LENS. The purpose of this study is to determine optimal modes of the LENS process for manufacturing of quality parts from titanium alloy VT23. Methodology. The alloy specimens obtained with laser power 700÷1300 W in increments of 100 W and scanning speed 600÷1,000 mm/min in increments of 200 mm/min and distance between adjacent laser tracks 0.5–0.9L (L — track width) in increments of 0.2L were analyzed in the study. The elemental composition of the powder material was studied by X-ray fluorescence analysis and reducing combustion in a gas analyzer, the structure of the objects obtained by LENS was analyzed by metallographic and X-ray phase analysis methods as well as microhardness was determined. Results and discussion. It is established that high-quality objects without cracks, with low porosity can be synthesized from VT23 alloy by LENS method using the following modes: laser power 700÷1100 W, scanning speed 800–1,000 mm/min, track spacing 0.5–0.7 of the individual track width L. It is shown that after all investigated LENS modes, the VT23 alloy had a dispersed (α+β) structure of the “basket weave” type. It is revealed that regardless of LENS mode the amount of β-phase in the alloy structure is about 30 %. It is shown that the microhardness of the deposited material does not depend on LENS modes and is 460 HV.