Study on Improvement of Surface Properties of Low Carbon Steel Using Laser Cladding

Abstract

Laser cladding is a method that can be applied to repair the crack and break on the mold and die surfaces, as well as generate new attributes on the surface to improve toughness, hardness, and corrosion resistance. It is used to extend the life of the mold. It also has the advantages of superior bonding strength and precision coating on a local area compared with the conventional thermal spraying technology. In this study, we investigated the effect of cladding on low carbon alloy steel using 18%Cr-2.5%Ni-Fe powder (Rockit404), which showed high hardness on the die surface. The process conditions were performed in an argon atmosphere using a diode laser source specialized for 900-1070 nm, and the output conditions were 5, 6, and 10 kW, respectively. After the cladding was completed, the surface coating layer’s shape, the hardness according to the cross-section’s thickness, and the microstructure were analyzed.

Keywords

• laser cladding
• vickers hardness
• microstructure
• surface treatment