A review on Additive Production of Functionally Graded Materials Based on Titanium

Functionally graded materials (FGMs) are heterogeneous structures that are advantageous in a wide range of applications due to their varied composition, microstructure, and site-specific characteristics, yet traditional manufacturing poses limitations. Additive manufacturing (AM) has surged in research interest over two decades, offering intricate part production with minimal waste, ideal for FGMs. AM advancements enable complex FGM designs, fostering their widespread use. Due to a number of advantages, the processing of functionally gradient materials was made feasible by the advent of modern additive manufacturing technology, which created a significant potential for the advancement of this class of engineering materials. When parts are subjected to different mechanical or thermal stresses within a focus area, these materials offer a sophisticated solution. Because of this, FGMs have found uses in the mining, aerospace, military, and marine manufacturing sectors etc., providing solutions for varied stresses. Notably, AM, particularly Directed Energy Deposition (DED), facilitates FGM fabrication, often using titanium and nickel alloys combined with other materials. The article explores an advanced conceptual understanding of additively manufactured FGMs, providing an overview of the Directed Energy Deposition (DED) technique. The focus is on enabling the production of FGM parts, with a brief examination of limitations in certain additive manufacturing (AM) technologies.