Fundamental research on high power CO2 laser cladding for the protection of heat exchange panels

Fundamental research on high power CO2 laser cladding for the protection of heat exchange panels was carried out. Three kinds of powders (two Ni-base alloys and stainless steel 316L) were cladded onto mild steel substrate. A 12 kW CO2 laser with a line-shaped laser beam of 12 mm width was used to perform the experiments. The aim of the study was to determine the cladding rate (area cladded per time). The influence of the parameters (laser power, speed, powder mass flow) to get a clad with a thickness of about 0.5 mm were studied. The influence of the energy distribution on the surface homogeneity of the clad layer was discussed. The laser cladded samples were analysed in terms of dilution, porosity, micro-cracking, micro-hardness and distortion.