Semi-Hybrid CO₂ Laser Metal Deposition Method with Inter Substrate Buffer Zone

Abstract

This article presents the results of the metal deposition process using additive materials in the form of filler wire and metal powder. An important problem in wire deposition using a CO2 laser was overcome by using a combination of the abovementioned methods. The deposition of a multicomponent alloy—Inconel 625—on a basic substrate such as structural steel is presented. The authors propose a new approach for stopping carbon and iron diffusion from the substrate, by using the Semi-Hybrid Deposition Method (S-HDM) developed by team members. The proposed semi-hybrid method was compared with alternative wire and powder deposition using laser beam. Differences of S-HDM and classic wire deposition and powder deposition methods are presented using metallographic analysis, within optic and electron microscopy. Significant differences in the obtained results reveal advantages of the developed method compared to traditional deposition methods. A comparison of the aforementioned methods performed using nickel based super alloy Inconel 625 deposited on low carbon steel substrate is presented. An alternative prototyping approach for an advanced high alloy materials deposition using CO2 laser, without the requirement of using the same substrate was presented in this article. This study confirmed the established assumption of reducing selected components diffusion from a substrate via buffer layer. Results of metallographic analysis confirm the advantages and application potential of using the new semi-hybrid method for prototyping high alloy materials on low alloy structural steel substrate.

Keywords

• direct laser deposition
• metal powder
• filler wire
• semi-hybrid method
• additive manufacturing
• microstructure analysis