Formation of highly corrosion resistant stainless steel surface alloys for marine environments by laser surface alloying

In the present study, formation of highly corrosion resistant austenitic stainless surface alloys containing high amounts of molybdenum and nickel on AISI 304 type SS by laser surface alloying is discussed. Microstructural characterisation using optical and scanning electron microscopy and elemental analysis by EDAX revealed fine cellular dendritic microstructure with good compositional homogeneity. Potentiodynamic polarisation in 3.5 wt per cent NaCI indicated very high pitting resistance of the surface alloy than that of the base metal.