Although titanium alloys have exhibited a combination range of excellent
properties. However, various potential applications of titanium alloys are hampered by
hard machinery and/or high cost due to material removal in conventional
manufacturing processes. Emerging additive manufacturing techniques are providing a
perfect opportunity for creating titanium and its composites, especially with complex
dimensions, such as selective laser melting (SLM). So far, many types of titanium
alloys components have been successfully manufactured by SLM, and they show
comparable properties compared with their traditional counterparts. This chapter first
briefly introduces the characteristics of the SLM process and parameters involved, then
reviews some of the latest developments in the processing, microstructure and
mechanical properties of Ti-based alloys and porous structures produced by SLM.
Keywords: Composites, Deformation behavior, Fatigue, Fracture, Mechanical
properties, Microstructure, Selective laser melting, Titanium, Wear.
