Capability of High-Speed Laser Cladding Process with Iron-Based Alloys

This study assesses the applicability of high-speed laser cladding for producing iron-based alloy coatings, in particular, CrNi duplex steel, FeCrV, and FeCrNiB. Process parameters are optimized for 150 µm thick claddings on mild steel using different laser power levels, surface speeds, and preheating temperatures. Claddings are also produced on cylindrical substrates of different diameters to investigate dependency on component geometry. Duplex steel was found to be highly processable by high-speed laser cladding. In contrast, crack-free FeCrV claddings can only be produced on small diameter surfaces, and only with preheating, while FeCrNiB could not be applied at all without cracking.