Lekoadi, Paul MasekuruTlotleng, MonnammeSiyasiya, Charles WitnessMasina, Bathusile N.2024-08-302024-08-302023-08Lekoadi, P.M., Tlotleng, M., Siyasiya, C.W. et al. 2023, 'Investigation of network microstructure of TiB/Ti6Al4V‑ELI composite manufactured with laser metal deposition', MRS Advances, vol. 8, pp. 602-606. https://DOI.org/10.1557/s43580-023-00576-4.2059-8521 (online)10.1557/s43580-023-00576-4http://hdl.handle.net/2263/97957DATA AVAILABILITY : The dataset generated and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.This work presents the microstructural investigation of an in situ synthesized TiB/Ti6Al4V-ELI composite that was manufactured with additive manufacturing (AM) technique known as laser metal deposition (LMD). A single-track sample was manufactured by adding TiB2 to Ti6Al4V-ELI at mass deposition volume of 5% and characterized for microstructure and hardness. It was found that in situ reaction promoted the formation of quasi-continuous network microstructure of TiB whiskers with a needle-like morphology, in a martensitic α′ matrix. Furthermore, the manufactured TiB/Ti6Al4V-ELI presented two different grain growth morphologies, with smaller and large TiB network grains observed at the top and bottom of the sample, respectively, due to heat travelling direction. A high hardness of 513 HV was observed at the top of the sample, which was reduced to 483 HV at the bottom, promoted by grain growth.en© The Author(s) 2023. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.Microstructural investigationTiB/Ti6Al4V-ELI compositeAdditive manufacturingSDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructureLaser metal deposition (LMD)Article