Laser Cladding
What is Laser Cladding ?
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Laser cladding falls into the group of processes commonly known as hard-facing. The laser cladding process is a method of applying a fully dense, metallurgically bonded and virtually pure coating which can be used to increase the wear resistance, corrosion resistance or impact performance of metallic components. In some cases, all three of the properties can be improved. The process utilises a precisely focussed high power laser beam to create a weld pool into which a metallic powder is applied. The powder, which is carried by a stream of inert shielding gas, is blown coaxially through the laser beam. The highly accurate nature of the laser beam allows fully dense cladding with minimal dilution (<5%), yet with a perfect metallurgical bond. Numerous coatings can be applied, the composition of which can be designed to combat the failure mechanisms associated with each component.
Fundamentals Of Laser Cladding
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- Typical single layer thickness: 0.2 - 2.0mm (multiple layers possible)
- Heat input to part: low to moderate
- Dilution with substrate material: variable with parameters but can be <5% gives a very pure coating with the desired coating properties.
- Adhesion: full metallurgical bond
- Density: fully dense (<0.1% porosity)
- Coating materials: WC/Ni alloys, Ni alloys, WC/Co alloys, Stellite 6, Inconel625, FeCrB,
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Benefits Of Laser Clad Coatings
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One of the major benefits associated with laser cladding is the ability to finely control the heat input to the substrate and the coating material. This allows the ability to deposit a two phase Metal Matrix Composite structure. In simple terms, the coating can have a softer, lower melting point material (the matrix) in which a harder wearing, higher melting point material (the hard phase) is suspended.
The matrix material is typically a nickel based alloy. This matrix provides toughness, ductility, and impact resistance whilst being wear resistant at elevated temperatures.
A reinforcing hard phase is typically a tungsten carbide but can also be titanium nitride / carbide, chromium carbide etc.
The fine control of the heat input allows the matrix to be completely melted, alloyed and bonded to the substrate surface, whilst at the same time, the carbide particles remain un-melted and are distributed evenly throughout the matrix. This is demonstrated in the adjacent coating section. This results in an extremely wear and impact resistant coating.
Comparison Of Coating Processes
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The following table gives a broad comparison of coating processes. The data shown is based on typical applications and parameters. There can be exceptions to the below data, based on specific applications and parameters.
HVOF Thermal Spray
PTA
Laser Cladding
Heat source
Flame (liquid or gas)
Electric arc
Laser beam
Coating thickness (typical)
0.05 – 1mm
0.5 – 5mm
0.2 – 2mm
Typical Deposition rates
≤ 5 kg/hr
≤ 10 kg/hour
≤ 5kg/hr
Dilution
0
5-15%
≤ 5%
Type of bonding
Mechanical
Metallurgical
Metallurgical
Bond strength
≤ 80 MPa
≤ 800 MPa
≤ 800 MPa
Heat input
Low – medium
High
Low - medium
Porosity
≤ 1%
< 0.1%
< 0.1%
Comparative capital cost
Medium
Low
High
Comparative running cost
High
Medium - Low
Low
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Typical Applications (Coating Materials)
- Down hole stabilisers (WC/Ni)
- High temp process rolls, hardness & corrosion resistance, valve lips and seats (Cobalt 6)
- Valve balls/seats, process rolls, waste incineration boiler parts, oil refinery process plant (NiCrMo)
- Coal and ore crushing hammers / wear plates / sand valves (WC/Ni)
- Valve balls/seats, process rolls, boiler components, waste incineration boiler parts, hydraulic rods, down hole stabilisers (FeCrB)
Laser Head
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Part No.
Description
MET-CLAD HEAD
MET-CLAD laser cladding head
Technical Overview
- Powder feed through conical co-axial ports to maximise precision, quality and efficiency of cladding.
- Laser focus point by simple adjustment in the head.
- Laser / powder feed head easily interchanged.
- Water cooled parts to ensure longevity.
- Optional internal camera to view the weld/clad region during processing.
What is Laser Cladding ?
-
Laser cladding falls into the group of processes commonly known as hard-facing. The laser cladding process is a method of applying a fully dense, metallurgically bonded and virtually pure coating which can be used to increase the wear resistance, corrosion resistance or impact performance of metallic components. In some cases, all three of the properties can be improved. The process utilises a precisely focussed high power laser beam to create a weld pool into which a metallic powder is applied. The powder, which is carried by a stream of inert shielding gas, is blown coaxially through the laser beam. The highly accurate nature of the laser beam allows fully dense cladding with minimal dilution (<5%), yet with a perfect metallurgical bond. Numerous coatings can be applied, the composition of which can be designed to combat the failure mechanisms associated with each component.
Fundamentals Of Laser Cladding
-
- Typical single layer thickness: 0.2 - 2.0mm (multiple layers possible)
- Heat input to part: low to moderate
- Dilution with substrate material: variable with parameters but can be <5% gives a very pure coating with the desired coating properties.
- Adhesion: full metallurgical bond
- Density: fully dense (<0.1% porosity)
- Coating materials: WC/Ni alloys, Ni alloys, WC/Co alloys, Stellite 6, Inconel625, FeCrB,
-
Benefits Of Laser Clad Coatings
-
One of the major benefits associated with laser cladding is the ability to finely control the heat input to the substrate and the coating material. This allows the ability to deposit a two phase Metal Matrix Composite structure. In simple terms, the coating can have a softer, lower melting point material (the matrix) in which a harder wearing, higher melting point material (the hard phase) is suspended.
The matrix material is typically a nickel based alloy. This matrix provides toughness, ductility, and impact resistance whilst being wear resistant at elevated temperatures.
A reinforcing hard phase is typically a tungsten carbide but can also be titanium nitride / carbide, chromium carbide etc.
The fine control of the heat input allows the matrix to be completely melted, alloyed and bonded to the substrate surface, whilst at the same time, the carbide particles remain un-melted and are distributed evenly throughout the matrix. This is demonstrated in the adjacent coating section. This results in an extremely wear and impact resistant coating.
Comparison Of Coating Processes
-
The following table gives a broad comparison of coating processes. The data shown is based on typical applications and parameters. There can be exceptions to the below data, based on specific applications and parameters.
HVOF Thermal Spray PTA Laser Cladding Heat source Flame (liquid or gas) Electric arc Laser beam Coating thickness (typical) 0.05 – 1mm 0.5 – 5mm 0.2 – 2mm Typical Deposition rates ≤ 5 kg/hr ≤ 10 kg/hour ≤ 5kg/hr Dilution 0 5-15% ≤ 5% Type of bonding Mechanical Metallurgical Metallurgical Bond strength ≤ 80 MPa ≤ 800 MPa ≤ 800 MPa Heat input Low – medium High Low - medium Porosity ≤ 1% < 0.1% < 0.1% Comparative capital cost Medium Low High Comparative running cost High Medium - Low Low -
Typical Applications (Coating Materials)
- Down hole stabilisers (WC/Ni)
- High temp process rolls, hardness & corrosion resistance, valve lips and seats (Cobalt 6)
- Valve balls/seats, process rolls, waste incineration boiler parts, oil refinery process plant (NiCrMo)
- Coal and ore crushing hammers / wear plates / sand valves (WC/Ni)
- Valve balls/seats, process rolls, boiler components, waste incineration boiler parts, hydraulic rods, down hole stabilisers (FeCrB)
Laser Head
-
Part No. Description MET-CLAD HEAD MET-CLAD laser cladding head
Technical Overview
- Powder feed through conical co-axial ports to maximise precision, quality and efficiency of cladding.
- Laser focus point by simple adjustment in the head.
- Laser / powder feed head easily interchanged.
- Water cooled parts to ensure longevity.
- Optional internal camera to view the weld/clad region during processing.