During laser powder cladding, the high energy output from the laser is used to adhere metallic powder fed from the outside to the base material of a work piece in a metallurgic process, thus reconditioning the work piece’s surface structure or improving the surface quality and protecting the work piece against wear and/or corrosion.

During this process, the laser energy welds a powdery welding consumable onto an existing component. This provides a pore- and crack-free layer with low dilution and a small heat-affected zone. This strengthens resistance in components and increases load capacities. Wear and corrosion are considerable cost factors in almost all production processes.

There is virtually no sector in which components do not lose their functional capabilities due to wear or corrosion as a result of abrasion. Applying a protective material can reduce the problem considerably or even prevent it. The advantages of an inexpensive base material can then be supported if coating is only applied to the areas on the component which are actually exposed to wear or corrosion. This is where the advantage of selective application with a laser lies.

The advantages of laser powder cladding in brief:

• Low dilution (less than 5%)
• Metallic bond and low porosity
• Very low distortion due to low energy input
• Good surface quality with little roughness
• High powder efficiency (up to 90%)
• High process speed at up to 3 m/min.

we are able to process work pieces from both the inside and outside. Optics developed by our Laser System Technology Department are used in this process. Our optimized procedure enables us to achieve layers between 0.5 and 2 mm thick and gauges between 1 and 16 mm. The multi-layered cladding can be applied to or processed onto almost any type of surface geometry.

Materials:

The real benefit for the client lies in selecting the right deposit material. We use different welding consumables, depending on coating requirements, which are applied in powder form. An extract for the corrosion and wear protection requirements profile and high-temperature applications.

Corrosion protection

• Nickel-based alloys
• Chrome-nickel steels (316L)

High-temperature applications

• Cobalt-based alloys (Stellite, Triballoy)

Wear protection

• Materials containing carbide (NiBSi + WSC)
• Iron-based alloys with different carbides

From a client perspective, there are basically two use cases for

laser powder welding:

• Repair of worn components
• Coating of components with materials to improve corrosion and/or wear resistance properties.

LASER CLADDING (STELLITE DEPOSITION)

Test plate – A516 GR 70, thk: 10mm

PROCESS: STELLITE 6 Hard Facing Over Lay

Hardness – 42 HRC (at 2mm thick)

PMI – Fe 6.35% found ok

Deposit Height measured as 2.53mm as welded condition