Effect of TiC nanoparticles on microstructure and corrosion resistance of laser cladding Al-CNTs composite coatings on AZ31 alloy

Al-CNTs composite coatings were successfully prepared on AZ31 alloy using laser cladding (LC). The effect of TiC nanoparticles on microstructure and corrosion resistance of the LC Al-CNTs and Al-TiC-CNTs composite coatings were investigated. The LC composite coatings were composed of α-Mg solid solution phase and β-Al12Mg17, Mg2Al3, Mg32(Al,Zn)49 and TiC compound phases. A sound metallurgical bonding interface was produced between the LC composite coatings and AZ31 alloy. The surface microhardness and corrosion resistance of the LC composite coatings, which were gradually decreased with increasing the content of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and TiC nanoparticles, were significantly enhanced compared to those of the AZ31 alloy. The LC Al-CNTs (99 wt% Al + 1 wt% CNTs) composite coating exhibits excellent surface microhardness and corrosion resistance. The mean surface microhardness, self-corrosion potential and self-corrosion current were 266.4 HV, −1.233 V and 2.55 × 10−5 A, which were 426.2%, 78.9% and 16.5% of the AZ31 alloy, respectively.