Abstract
The paper presents the study results of a laser cladding process of C45 steel using powder mixtures. The aim of this study was to investigate the microstructure, X-ray diffraction (XRD), chemical composition (EDS), microhardness, corrosion resistance and wear resistance of the newly obtained coatings. Modified coatings were prepared using laser cladding technology. A 1 kW continuous wave Yb:YAG disk laser with a powder feeding system was applied. Two different powder mixtures as well as various laser beam parameters were used. The first powder mixture contained Fe–B, and the second mixture was Fe–B–B4C–Si. Two values of laser beam power (600 and 800 W) and three values of scanning speed (600, 800, and 1000 mm/min) were applied during the studies. As a result of the influence of the laser beam, the zones enriched with modifying elements were obtained. Based on the results of XRD, the presence of phases derived from borides and carbides was found. In all cases analyzed, EDS studies showed that there is an increased content of boron in the dendritic areas, while there is an increased silicon content in interdendritic spaces. The addition of B4C and Si improved properties such as microhardness as well as wear and corrosion resistance. The microhardness of the coating increased from approx. 400 HV to approx. 1100 HV depending on the laser parameters used. The best corrosion resistance was obtained for the Fe–B–B4C–Si coating produced using the highest laser beam scanning speed. An improvement in wear resistance can be seen after wear tests, where the weight loss decreased from about 0.08 g to about 0.05 g.
Highlights
Laser cladding is a technological process in which material in the form of powder is deposited on the substrate material [1,2]
The best corrosion resistance was obtained for the first mixture consisted of typical iron-boron (Fe–B)–B4 C–Si coating produced using the highest laser beam scanning speed
The most commonly used coatings produced by the laser cladding process may include nickel-based and iron-based alloy coatings reinforced with different carbides
Summary
Laser cladding is a technological process in which material in the form of powder is deposited on the substrate material [1,2]. The most commonly used coatings produced by the laser cladding process may include nickel-based and iron-based alloy coatings reinforced with different carbides These types of coatings are characterized by high hardness, and good corrosion and wear resistance, they can become an alternative to coatings produced using thermal spraying processes. As in the work [19], the authors found that cladded coating (containing in this case boron and iron in various proportions, as well as silicon) leads to obtaining a microstructure comprising a fine dispersion of intermetallic phases in α-matrix, and characterized by a good microhardness from 1150 to. The effect of laser cladding parameters and the composition of the powder mixture, as well as the presence of a B4 C phase on the microstructure and selected properties such as the microhardness, phase composition, corrosion resistance and wear resistance of composite coatings produced on medium carbon steel, were analyzed
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