Characteristics of cobalt-based alloy coating on tool steel prepared by powder feeding laser cladding

Co-based alloy coating was deposited on tool steel by powder feeding laser cladding. Sections of such coatings were examined to reveal their microstructures and phases using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). The results showed that the prime phase (γ-Co dendrite) and other phases, including Cr₂₃C₆, Co₇W₆, and CrNi existed in the coatings. Some different solidification morphologies, such as planar (at the interface), cellular and dendrite formed, varying from the interface to the surface. Fine microstructures of γ-Co dendrite and lamellar eutectic in dendritical regions strengthened the coatings. Besides, the effects of aged treatment on the microstructure and microhardness of the surface coating were studied. Aged treatment led to the precipitations of some carbide particles (Cr₇C₃ and Co₃C) and boride particles (Co₄B) from the cladded coating, causing an increase in microhardness in the laser-cladded coating.     

Atomic diffusion in laser surface modified AISI H13 steel

This paper presents a laser surface modification process of AISI H13 steel using 0.09 and 0.4 mm of laser spot sizes with an aim to increase surface hardness and investigate elements diffusion in laser modified surface. A Rofin DC-015 diffusion-cooled CO₂ slab laser was used to process AISI H13 steel samples. Samples of 10 mm diameter were sectioned to 100 mm length in order to process a predefined circumferential area. The parameters selected for examination were laser peak power, pulse repetition frequency (PRF), and overlap percentage. The hardness properties were tested at 981 mN force. Metallographic study and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) were performed to observe presence of elements and their distribution in the sample surface. Maximum hardness achieved in the modified surface was 1017 HV_0.1. Change of elements composition in the modified layer region was detected in the laser modified samples. Diffusion possibly occurred for C, Cr, Cu, Ni, and S elements. The potential found for increase in surface hardness represents an important method to sustain tooling life. The EDXS findings signify understanding of processing parameters effect on the modified surface composition.     

H13钢激光熔覆Co基涂层组织及热疲劳性能

针对热作模具用H13钢工况下易产生热疲劳失效的问题,采用Nd:YAG激光器在H13钢表面制备Co基合金涂层。利用光学显微镜、扫描电镜、能谱仪和X射线衍射仪,对涂层组织、合金元素分布及物相组成进行检测。利用显微硬度计和热震实验法,测试热疲劳对Co基合金涂层和淬火回火态H13钢硬度影响。结果表明,Co基合金涂层从底部到表层,依次为平面晶、胞状晶、树枝晶和等轴晶。Co基合金涂层物相主要由-Co和M23C6相组成,热疲劳后涂层表面形成M2O3和M3O4(M=Fe,Co,Cr)氧化物。Co基合金涂层硬度最高可达706HV0.2且呈梯度降低;热循环1000次后,Co基合金涂层表面硬度降低24.4%,H13钢表面硬度降低37.7%,Co基合金涂层硬度下降幅度低于H13钢。热循环1000次后,Co基合金涂层表面未发现明显热裂纹,H13钢表面形成大量网状热裂纹。Co基合金涂层中,Cr元素形成致密Cr2O3氧化膜使其热疲劳性能优于H13钢。     

H13钢激光熔覆Co基涂层组织及热疲劳性能

针对热作模具用H13钢工况下易产生热疲劳失效的问题,采用Nd:YAG激光器在H13钢表面制备Co基合金涂层。利用光学显微镜、扫描电镜、能谱仪和X射线衍射仪,对涂层组织、合金元素分布及物相组成进行检测。利用显微硬度计和热震实验法,测试热疲劳对Co基合金涂层和淬火回火态H13钢硬度影响。结果表明,Co基合金涂层从底部到表层,依次为平面晶、胞状晶、树枝晶和等轴晶。Co基合金涂层物相主要由-Co和M23C6相组成,热疲劳后涂层表面形成M2O3和M3O4(M=Fe,Co,Cr)氧化物。Co基合金涂层硬度最高可达706HV0.2且呈梯度降低;热循环1000次后,Co基合金涂层表面硬度降低24.4%,H13钢表面硬度降低37.7%,Co基合金涂层硬度下降幅度低于H13钢。热循环1000次后,Co基合金涂层表面未发现明显热裂纹,H13钢表面形成大量网状热裂纹。Co基合金涂层中,Cr元素形成致密Cr2O3氧化膜使其热疲劳性能优于H13钢。     

Surface transformation of AISI 304 stainless steel by high power diode laser

A high power diode laser was used in continuous mode to irradiate milled AISI 304 substrates in order to modify their surface morphology. Milling of the steel substrates was operated at different feeds, thus allowing the achievement of a broad range of starting surface texture, characterized by average roughness of ∼0.65-1.5 μm. Laser finishing was then operated on them by varying laser power and scan speed.The effectiveness of the laser finishing was evaluated by 3D surface profilometry and SEM imaging. Laser was found to modify the surface morphology of the irradiated zones and achieve high quality surface textures. Further, consistent trends of the amplitude, spacing and hybrid roughness parameters according to laser operational settings can often be found. Finally, mapping of the experimental data can lead to the definition of a first approximation tool, which can be profitably used for simulation and process control.     

Interface bonding of NiCrAlY coating on laser modified H13 tool steel surface

Bonding strength of thermal spray coatings depends on the interfacial adhesion between bond coat and substrate material. In this paper, NiCrAlY (Ni-164/211 Ni22 %Cr10 %Al1.0 %Y) coatings were developed on laser modified H13 tool steel surface using atmospheric plasma spray (APS). Different laser peak power, P _p, and duty cycle, DC, were investigated in order to improve the mechanical properties of H13 tool steel surface. The APS spraying parameters setting for coatings were set constant. The coating microstructure near the interface was analyzed using IM7000 inverted optical microscope. Interface bonding of NiCrAlY was investigated by interfacial indentation test (IIT) method using MMT-X7 Matsuzawa Hardness Tester Machine with Vickers indenter. Diffusion of atoms along NiCrAlY coating, laser modified and substrate layers was investigated by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) using Hitachi Tabletop Microscope TM3030 Plus. Based on IIT method results, average interfacial toughness, K _avg, for reference sample was 2.15 MPa m^1/2 compared to sample L1 range of K _avg from 6.02 to 6.96 MPa m^1/2 and sample L2 range of K _avg from 2.47 to 3.46 MPa m^1/2. Hence, according to K _avg, sample L1 has the highest interface bonding and is being laser modified at lower laser peak power, P _p, and higher duty cycle, DC, prior to coating. The EDXS analysis indicated the presence of Fe in the NiCrAlY coating layer and increased Ni and Cr composition in the laser modified layer. Atomic diffusion occurred in both coating and laser modified layers involved in Fe, Ni and Cr elements. These findings introduce enhancement of coating system by substrate surface modification to allow atomic diffusion.     

Numerical simulation of powder transport behavior in laser cladding with coaxial powder feeding

Laser cladding with coaxial powder feeding is one of the new processes applied to produce well bonding coating on the component to improve performance of its surface. In the process, the clad material is transported by the carrying gas through the coaxial nozzle, generating gas-powder flow. The powder feeding process in the coaxial laser cladding has important influence on the clad qualities. A 3D numerical model was developed to study the powder stream structure of a coaxial feeding nozzle. The predicted powder stream structure was well agreed with the experimental one. The validated model was used to explore the collision behavior of particles in the coaxial nozzle, as well as powder concentration distribution. It was found that the particle diameter and restitution coefficient greatly affect the velocity vector at outlet of nozzle due to the collisions, as well as the powder stream convergence characteristics below the nozzle. The results indicated a practical approach to optimize the powder stream for the coaxial laser cladding.     

激光熔覆中同轴送粉气体-粉末流数值模拟

应用FLUENT软件的离散相模块建立了激光熔覆中气体 粉末流的二维模型,研究了保护气和输送气流量及送粉量对粉末流浓度场和速度场的分布规律的影响以及对粉末流发散角和焦点的影响。计算结果表明:随着输送气流量的增大,粉末流速度增加,粉末流发散角逐渐减小;送粉量增加,焦点略微下移,焦点处粉末流浓度值增大。在相同的工艺参数下,使用单反相机拍摄粉末流分布,结果表明试验与计算结果基本吻合。     

激光熔覆中同轴送粉气体-粉末流数值模拟

应用FLUENT软件的离散相模块建立了激光熔覆中气体 粉末流的二维模型,研究了保护气和输送气流量及送粉量对粉末流浓度场和速度场的分布规律的影响以及对粉末流发散角和焦点的影响。计算结果表明：随着输送气流量的增大,粉末流速度增加,粉末流发散角逐渐减小;送粉量增加,焦点略微下移,焦点处粉末流浓度值增大。在相同的工艺参数下,使用单反相机拍摄粉末流分布,结果表明试验与计算结果基本吻合。     

Process mapping of laser surface modification of AISI 316L stainless steel for biomedical applications

A 1.5-kW CO₂ laser in pulsed mode at 3 kHz was used to investigate the effects of varied laser process parameters and resulting morphology of AISI 316L stainless steel. Irradiance and residence time were varied between 7.9 to 23.6 MW/cm² and 50 to 167 μs, respectively. A strong correlation between irradiance, residence time, depth of processing and roughness of processed steel was established. The high depth of altered microstructure and increased roughness were linked to higher levels of both irradiance and residence times. Energy fluence and surface temperature models were used to predict levels of melting occurring on the surface through the analysis of roughness and depth of the region processed. Microstructural images captured by the SEM revealed significant grain structure changes at higher irradiances, but due to increased residence times, limited to the laser in use, the hardness values were not improved.     

Concentration mode of the powder stream in coaxial laser cladding

The blown powder laser cladding process has recently been greatly enhanced by the development of a coaxial powder feed system. It provides a new route to generate the metal parts directly from CAD drawings. The performance of the coaxial powder feeder depends on various gas flow streams which significantly affect the distribution mode of the powder stream and the deposition rate in cladding.Two types of optical techniques have been adopted in this study to investigate the powder concentration mode of the coaxial jet streams. The mode of the powder stream is also mathematically modelled and compared to the experimental results of stainless steel powder. The Gaussian distribution mode in the transverse direction of the powder stream was identified by theory and experiment at cold stream conditions.     

Temperature analysis of the powder streams in coaxial laser cladding

The powder stream temperature of a newly developed coaxial laser cladding technique have been calculated and measured in this study. A simplified one-dimensional model of the particle heating problem under laser irradiation was solved with various conditions of laser intensity, particle size and flow velocity. The experimental results have been successfully detected by a pin-hole infrared sensor with the temperature calibration for hot particles. The thermal profiles of the coaxial nozzle give an optimum operation range of the stand-off distance for coaxial laser cladding.     

Thermal processes of a powder particle in coaxial laser cladding

This paper presents a numerical analysis of the heating, melting and evaporation processes of a single spherical powder particle when irradiated by a CO₂ laser beam in coaxial laser cladding. The power particle has a size ranging from 20 to 200 μm and the intensity of the laser has been varied from 500 to 3000 W. The laser energy, initial powder velocity and size have been shown to have important effects on the temperature profile of the powder stream. It has also been shown that high powder evaporation due to high power laser radiation may induce significant loss in the powder particle mass, to as much as 25% of the initial size at certain conditions in the simulation.     

Surface modification of silica with ultraviolet laser radiation

A frequency-doubled copper vapour laser was used to irradiate the surface of silica with ultraviolet light at fluences of between 0.1 and 0.5 J/cm² per pulse for several hundred pulses. Analysis of the surface composition using time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectroscopy (TOF-SIMS) shows that the relative surface-hydroxyl (OH) concentration decreases with increasing laser irradiance. This dehydroxylation results in silica surfaces with final-state hydroxyl concentrations similar to those obtained through the thermal treatment of silica at around 1000 °C. The mechanism for the dehydroxylation reported here, however, is more likely to be photolytic than thermal. Laser dehydroxylation allows for the selective and rapid dehydroxylation of silica offering many practical advantages over thermal dehydroxylation. The modified surface has significantly increased hydrophobicity compared to the untreated silica surface.     

Surface texturing of the carbon steel AISI 1045 using femtosecond laser in single pulse and scanning regime

Surface texturing of the metals, including steels, gained a new dimension with the appearance of femtosecond lasers. These laser systems enable highly precise modifications, which are very important for numerous applications of metals. The effects of a Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser with the pulse duration of 160 fs, operating at 775 nm wavelength and in two operational regimes - single pulse (SP) and scanning regime, on a high quality AISI 1045 carbon steel were studied. The estimated surface damage threshold was 0.22 J/cm² (SP). Surface modification was studied for the laser fluences of 0.66, 1.48 and 2.37 J/cm². The fluence of 0.66 J/cm², in both working regimes, induced texturing of the material, i.e. formation of periodic surface structures (PSS). Their periodicity was in accordance with the used laser wavelength. Finally, changes in the surface oxygen content caused by ultrashort laser pulses were recorded.     

CEMS study of stainless steel films deposited by pulsed laser ablation of AISI316

Thin stainless steel films deposited on SiO₂/Si wafer were prepared by a pulsed laser ablation of austenite stainless steel (AISI316), and characterized by conversion electron Mössbauer spectrometry (CEMS) using a He gas proportional counter. As-deposited films were composed of a magnetic phase. When deposited films were heated in air at various temperatures, the hyperfine field of the magnetic phase increased. Hematite was produced on the surface, and the magnetic orientation changed from parallel to in-plane at random with the increase of heating temperatures. The metallic iron and magnetite were produced at 400°C in dry Ar + 5%H₂ atmosphere. When the film was heated in wet Ar + 5%H₂ atmosphere at 600°C, maghemite was produced on the surface, and austenite phase was produced in the inner film.     

Surface modifications of upgraded high-speed tool steel

The SW7M high-speed tool steel of composition Fe (80%), Mo (5%), Cr (4%), V (2%) and C (1%) was studied by conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy at 293 K. The specimen consists mainly of -Fe, martensite and austenite grains. The unwanted fraction of austenite was reduced by polishing the sample in an external magnetic field. At elevated temperatures, the SW7M steel exhibits a selective oxidation of its fraction. The corrosion rate is sigificantly reduced by N and Ti low-energy ion bombardment.     

Prediction of clad angle in laser cladding by powder using response surface methodology and scatter search

Currently, laser cladding is an important process that allows the deposition of thick protective coatings on substrates. The article presents an experimental investigation of the influence of processing parameters on clad angle in laser cladding by powder (LCP). The clad angle is determined from the mathematical expression relating to the clad height and clad width. The cladding angle model was developed in terms of laser power, scanning speed, and powder mass flow rate by means of response surface methodology. A first-order equation covering a narrow range of the variables and a second-order equation covering a wide range of the variables are presented. An optimization technique, Scatter Search, is used to determine optimal processing parameters. The adequacy of the predictive model was tested by analysis of variance and found to be adequate.     

3-D finite element modeling of laser cladding by powder injection: effects of laser pulse shaping on the process

This paper introduces a 3-D transient finite element model of laser cladding by powder injection to investigate the effects of laser pulse shaping on the process. The proposed model can predict the clad geometry as a function of time and process parameters including laser pulse shaping, travel velocity, laser pulse energy, powder jet geometry, and material properties. In the proposed strategy, the interaction between powder and melt pool is assumed to be decoupled and as a result, the melt pool boundary is first obtained in the absence of powder spray. Once the melt pool boundary is obtained, it is assumed that a layer of coating material is deposited on the intersection of the melt pool and powder stream in the absence of the laser beam in which its thickness is calculated based on the powder feedrate and elapsed time. The new melt pool boundary is then calculated by thermal analysis of the deposited powder layer, substrate and laser heat flux. The process is simulated for different laser pulse frequencies and energies. The results are presented and compared with experimental data. The quality of clad bead for different parameter sets is experimentally evaluated and shown as a function of effective powder deposition density and effective energy density. The comparisons show excellent agreement between the modeling and experimental results for cases in which a high quality clad bead is expected.