Characterisation, wear and corrosion testing of laser-deposited AISI 316 reinforced with ceramic particles

Abstract

Direct laser deposition was used to create tracks and surfaces using AISI 316 stainless steel powder blended with alumina, tungsten carbide or chromium carbide, with the aim to apply localised reinforcement to stainless steel components. Co-deposition of the powders was carried onto an AISI 316 stainless steel surface to evaluate parameters, and to produce specimens for metallography, EDX and XRD analysis and microhardness tests. Testing of the specimens produced using selected parameters included pin-on-disc wear tests, slurry pot erosion and corrosion testing. The alumina failed to produce a useful improvement to material properties. Tungsten carbide improved wear resistance by 260 times while erosion resistance was doubled; chromium carbide gave a maximum improvement of 88 time to sliding wear resistance, and a 2·3 times maximum improvement of erosion resistance. Chromium carbide-reinforced material furthermore performed well in corrosion tests. The deposition and testing of these materials is described and the outcome of the tests carried out is reported.