Cable-stranded wire-fed laser cladding of high-aluminum lightweight high-entropy alloys

Abstract

The wire-fed laser cladding has gained significant attention recently due to its advantages as high material utilization rate and a favorable working environment. However, it's limited by the availability of wires, especially for advanced materials like high entropy alloys which are difficult to shape into wires. Cable-stranded wires offer a potential solution to this problem and can expand the application of wire-fed laser cladding. Nevertheless, issues related to tensile failure and loose strands in skein twisting need addressing. Here, we propose an improved skein twisting process, reengineer and fabricate a wire twisting machine for preparing cable-stranded wires. Specifically, Al50Si6Ti8Fe12Cu12Ni12 and Al50Si6Ti8Cr12Cu12Ni12 - two novel lightweight high-aluminum high-entropy alloys - were designed and stranded into Core-Periphery structured wires while the core wire possesses good high-temperature fluidity to ensure uniformity of the cladding layer. The resulting coatings exhibit no cracks with uniform compositions, and exhibit enhanced hardness and corrosion properties.