Laser surface cladding of SiC / Si3N4 on AA6061 aluminum alloy

Abstract

Laser surface cladding of SiC / Si3N4 on AA6061 aluminum alloy was carried out using a 2 kW CW Nd-YAG laser. Different ratios of SiC and Si3N4 powders were mixed and the layers were preplaced by the pasting. Subsequent laser surface melting of the layers gave a surface metal matrix composite (MMC). The microstructure, chemical compositions and phase identification of the modified layers were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) respectively. Microhardness test and cavitation erosion test in 3.5% NaCl solution at 23 °C were also performed. Finally the cavitation erosion mechanisms of the LSC modified layers were studied by surface morphology analysis.Laser surface cladding of SiC / Si3N4 on AA6061 aluminum alloy was carried out using a 2 kW CW Nd-YAG laser. Different ratios of SiC and Si3N4 powders were mixed and the layers were preplaced by the pasting. Subsequent laser surface melting of the layers gave a surface metal matrix composite (MMC). The microstructure, chemical compositions and phase identification of the modified layers were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) respectively. Microhardness test and cavitation erosion test in 3.5% NaCl solution at 23 °C were also performed. Finally the cavitation erosion mechanisms of the LSC modified layers were studied by surface morphology analysis.