In laser-assisted air plasma spraying (LAAPS), a laser beam interacts simultaneously with the coating surface during plasma spraying in order to increase the coating surface temperature and possibly remelt the coating surface. As a result, the microstructure is partially densified and macrocracks can be inhibited. In this paper, LAAPS was performed to improve the mechanical properties of ZrO 2 – 8 wt.% Y 2 O 3 coatings. The coating microstructure was characterized by optical microscopy, SEM and X-ray diffraction. The mechanical characterization was done by hardness measurements, thermal shock resistance and erosive wear tests. Results showed that laser assistance may induce: (1) a decrease of the amount of microcracks and interlamellar pores, (2) a columnar dendritic structure in the coating splats and (3) an improvement of the thermal shock resistance. LAAPS did not affect the hardness or the erosive wear resistance of yttria partially stabilized zirconia coatings.

This study investigates the influence of laser cladding parameters on the geometry and composition of metal-matrix composite (MMC) coatings. Composite coatings are made of a Ni-Cr-B-Si metallic matrix and of WC reinforcement with a volume fraction of 50 %. Optical microscopy is used to characterize the coating geometry (height, width and penetration depth) and to determine the real volumetric content of WC. Laser cladding on low carbon steel substrate is carried out using a cw Nd:YAG laser, a coaxial powder injection system and a combination of Taguchi and EM methods to design the experiments. This combination explores efficiently the multidimensional volume of laser cladding parameters. The results, which express the interrelationship between laser cladding parameters and the characteristics of the clad produced, can be used to find optimum laser parameters, to predict the responses and to improve the understanding of laser cladding process.

Alumina-titania coatings deposited by air plasma spraying (APS) are widely used to protect components against wear at low temperatures. It is known that microstructures formed by the post-laser remelting of as-sprayed coatings exhibit a densification but also numerous macrocracks due to the rapid cooling and thermal stresses. By using the laser-assisted air plasma spraying (LAAPS), the laser beam interacts simultaneously with the plasma torch in order to increase coating surface temperature and possibly superficially remelt the coating. As a result, the microstructure is partially densified and macrocracks, which are generally produced in the post-laser irradiation treatment, can be inhibited. In addition, this hybrid spraying can be done without the post-treatment of coating. In this paper, LAAPS was performed to improve the mechanical properties of Al 2 O 3 -13%TiO 2 coatings. The coating microstructure was characterized by SEM and X-ray diffraction. The mechanical characterization was done by hardness measurements, erosive wear tests and abrasion wear tests. Results showed that laser assistance may induce: (1) the disappearance of vertical and horizontal macrocracks due the laser irradiation in the coatings for a laser irradiation density lower than 34 W.mm-2, (2) an important decrease of the amount of microcracks in the deposited splats, (3) the partial transformation of the metastable γ-Al 2 O 3 phase in the equilibrium α-Al 2 O 3 phase, (4) a hardness increase of 11%, (5) an improvement of the erosive wear resistance by 12% and (6) an improvement of the abrasive wear resistance by 38%.