Title: Study on crack sensitivity and tribological characterisation of functionally gradient material multi-layer by laser cladding with powder mixture of Ni-based alloy and tungsten carbide

Authors: Yanhua Zhao; Jie Sun; Jianfeng Li

Addresses: School of Mechanical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, 250061, China; Key Laboratory of High Efficiency and Clean Mechanical Manufacture, Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250061, China ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, 250061, China; Key Laboratory of High Efficiency and Clean Mechanical Manufacture, Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250061, China ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, 250061, China; Key Laboratory of High Efficiency and Clean Mechanical Manufacture, Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250061, China

Abstract: Laser cladding, which can increase the hardness and wear resistance of the used components, is widely used in remanufacture and sustainable manufacturing field. Ni-based alloy cladding layer including hard particles such as tungsten carbides can effectively improve the properties of the used parts. However, with the WC weight fraction increasing, the coating becomes brittle, and the brittle crack easily occurs. Based on this, the powder mixture of Ni-based alloy and tungsten carbide (WC) in the range of 5 wt%-47 wt% WC fraction with functionally gradient material multi-layer cladding (FGMMLC) were deposited on AISI 1045 steel plates by laser cladding. The influence of WC weight fraction on the crack sensitivity in FGMMLC coating was investigated. The microstructure, phase constitution, microhardness and wear resistance of the cladding layer were investigated. The results showed the FGMMCL coating was free of cracks due to the slowly changing of thermal expansion coefficient of each layer. The hardness and wear resistance of FGMMLC coating were significantly improved because of the existence of numerous WC particles.

Keywords: laser cladding; microstructure; crack sensitivity; wear resistance; functionally gradient material multi-layer cladding; tribology; nickel alloy; tungsten carbide; steel plates; microhardness; thermal expansion coefficient.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSURFSE.2015.070814

International Journal of Surface Science and Engineering, 2015 Vol.9 No.4, pp.370 - 383

Received: 20 May 2014
Accepted: 09 Jul 2014
Published online: 28 Jul 2015 *

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