Rapid fabrication of Al-based bulk-form nanocomposites with novel reinforcement and enhanced performance by selective laser melting

A novel ring-structured nanoscale TiC reinforcement with a regular distribution was tailored along the grain boundaries of the matrix by selective laser melting (SLM) to produce TiC/AlSi10 Mg nanocomposite parts. Relative to the SLM-processed unreinforced AlSi10 Mg part, the TiC/AlSi10 Mg nanocomposite part with the novel reinforcement architecture exhibited elevated microhardness (188.3 HV0.1) and tensile strength (486 MPa) without a reduction in elongation (10.9%), due to the combined effects of grain refinement and grain boundary strengthening caused by the ring-structured nanoscale TiC reinforcement.