Titanium diboride nanopowder has the characteristics of high melting point and high hardness, and is resistant to molten metal corrosion, and is often used for preparing composite ceramics. A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Reseach), Singapore's largest research institute, has successfully improved the strength and thermal properties of materials by adding titanium diboride to nickel-based alloys commonly used in 3D printing. It is expected to expand its application again.

In this study, the base alloy chosen by scientists is currently a nickel-based alloy 625 that has been widely used in the marine industry. It consists of 55%-70% nickel, and other metals such as chromium, molybdenum, iron, niobium and tantalum. It has excellent corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance. It has good tensile and fatigue properties from low temperature to 980 °C. And resistance to stress corrosion under salt spray atmosphere.

The scientists grind and mix the "Inconel625" alloy powder with titanium diboride powder with a particle size of about 58 nanometers, and then use the "Laser Assisted Additive Manufacturing" (LAAM) technology developed by the Singapore Institute of Technology and the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology. A rectangular sample (size 120 mm x 70 mm x 10 mm, layer thickness 1 mm) was printed on a carbon steel substrate using a laser 3D printer with a 6-axis robotic arm.

Finally, through testing, they found that the sample was better than the pure nickel-based alloy 625 3D prints in terms of mechanical strength, thermal properties, and resistance to wear and corrosion. After further research, they found the reason for this change—the titanium boride nanoparticles aggregated to the boundary between the Inconel 625 grains, enhancing the grain boundaries (the contact interface between grains and grains is called grain boundary).

Guijun Bi, a researcher at the research project, stated: “The addition of nanoparticles to metal-based materials is an effective way to customize materials with significant improvements in physical, thermal, mechanical, abrasion and corrosion resistance. ". “We hope to continue researching this approach while exploring new nanocomposite composites for 3D printing.”

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