2011 Volume 37 Issue 6 Pages 306-310
Laser cladding has many advantages compared to alternative surface treatment processes. However, the utilization of the laser energy should be improved in order to increase the efficiency of the laser cladding process. The Ni-base self-fusing alloys can produce layers by means of laser processing techniques. The diode laser is more compact and the electro-optical-efficiency is higher about one order of magnitude. This is an advantage in both the small-size manufacturing field and large-size construction out door field. Another advantage is the wavelength. The shorter wavelength output of the diode laser is better absorbed by cladding materials than the light of the YAG and especially the mid-infrared CO2 laser. For laser power exceeding 191W, the Vickers hardness of Ni-base self-fusing alloy layer increases with increasing laser power. The layer clad thickness decreased up to higher scan velocities. The layers formed at laser power of 262W and overlap rate of 66% had a high hardness of HV1177.
