New innovations in diode laser cladding

The Fraunhofer Center for Surface and Laser Processing developed a new cladding process, utilizing a 3kW direct diode laser and a coaxial powder-fedding nozzle. Porosity free and near crack free nickel based coatings with a high content of globular tungsten carbide (WC) are applied to metal surfaces. The process reduces the operational cost of conventional CO2-systems by at least a factor of three and lowers investment costs by utilizing smaller laser systems. The process found its first application in the oil industry where it is applied to down-hole drilling equipment. In collaboration with a partner, new superior wear protective hard coatings were developed, tested and applied to a number of oilfield tools. In future developments the Center for Surface and Laser Processing will apply the technology for the repair of tools and dies and increase cladding efficiency further by using special plasma and induction based hybrid technologies.