Fig. 2.

Surface and micro/nanostructure of laser-deposited aluminum matrix nanocomposites (AMNC). a Top view of laser-deposited AMNC (35 vol.% TiC) specimens with dimensions of 3 mm × 3 mm, 3 mm × 18.5 mm, and 8 mm × 18.5 mm. The insert SEM image shows an area of the laser-deposited specimen. b, c 52° tilted cross-sectional SEM images of laser-processed AMNC (35 vol.% TiC) were captured under different magnifications, showing that TiC nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed and distributed in aluminum. d FFT filtered high resolution TEM image shows good bonding between TiC nanoparticle and aluminum. Inserts are the fast Fourier transforms corresponding to the planes of (2 2 0) aluminum matrix and of (2 0 0) TiC nanoparticles. e, The grain maps of laser-deposited AMNC (35 vol.% TiC). Scale bar, 1 mm in a (right), 5 µm in b, 1 µm in c, 2 nm in d, and 500 nm in e