SHS Produced TiB2-Si Powders for Selective Laser Melting of Ceramic-Based Composite

Abstract

One of the main limitations for widespread additive manufacturing is availability and processability of the precursor materials feedstock. For the first time, this study reports the development of a “pomegranate-like” structured TiB2-Si ceramic-metalloid powder feedstock suitable for selective laser melting (SLM) of ceramic-based composite. The powder was produced via self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) at a moderate combustion temperature of 1530 °C. The effective activation energy in the Ti-B-Si system for the slow step of the combustion process was estimated as 184 kJ. Conditions of SHS process demonstrated a strong influence on the properties of produced powders and, therefore, on SLM parameters and properties of the printed materials. The powders have demonstrated a high performance for manufacturing bulks of 56 wt%TiB2–44 wt%Si ceramic-based composite.