Vanadium　(V)　interlayers　of　0.4　mm,　0.8　mm,　and　1.2　mm　thickness　were　firstly　deposited　on　the　TC4　alloy　side　using　a　laser　metal　deposition　(LMD)　process,　which　was　then　combined　with　a　CuCrZr　plate　as　a　composite　intermediate　layer,　for　dissimilar　laser　welding　of　TC4　titanium　alloys　to　304　stainless　steels　(SS)　successfully.　The　effects　of　different　thicknesses　of　V　interlayers　on　the　weld　shape,　microstructure　and　mechanical　properties　of　TC4/304SS　joints　were　investigated.　The　results　show　that　a　sound　TC4/304SS　butt　joint　with　full　penetration　is　successfully　obtained　using　the　prepared　composite　interlayer.　The　TC4/304SS　joint　exhibits　a　maximum　ultimate　tensile　strength　(UTS)　of　418　MPa　and　an　elongation　index　(EI)　of　15　%　with　a　V　layer　thickness　of　1.2　mm.　With　the　V-layer　thickness　increasing,　the　size　and　content　of　the　V-Cu　solid　solution　in　the　fusion　zone　(FZ)　on　the　TC4　alloy　side　are　gradually　increased　without　the　formation　of　intermetallic　compounds　(IMCs)　generated.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd