Wear Performance of Tungsten Carbide-NickelChromium Coating Produced by Laser Cladding

Abstract

The manufacturing of end-use parts and high-volume production tooling, such as molds and dies, presents distinct challenges regarding dimensional accuracy, flexibility, and production speed. Laser cladding has emerged as a   promising technique, offering high energy density, low elemental dilution, and minimal thermal damage to substrates, making it ideal for producing dense, well-bonded coatings. By optimizing laser cladding parameters, remanufactured surfaces can be generated with superior properties compared to the original, uncoated parts. This study focuses on the characterization of WC-7Ni-19Cr coatings applied to AISI H13 and AISI 4140 steels, which are representative of injection mold materials and blades used in steam turbine energy generation from sugarcane bagasse combustion, respectively. The coatings were evaluated to identify optimal cladding parameters and were characterized using laser confocal microscopy, Vickers microhardness testing, and microadhesive wear analysis. The results demonstrated that the coatings were homogeneous, exhibited high hardness and wear resistance, and outperformed the respective substrates. These findings highlight the potential for laser cladding in enhancing industrial component performance.