Evaluation of the mechanical properties of laser cladded hypereutectoid steel rails

Local material properties of the cladding layer, heat affected zone and substrate of laser cladded hypereutectoid steel rails were evaluated by uniaxial tensile tests on miniature specimens. Three laser cladding materials, i.e. 410 L, SS420 and Stellite 6, and two different heat treatment conditions were considered. To examine any possible anisotropic behaviour, specimens machined along the longitudinal and transverse laser cladding directions were tested. All the cladding layers showed similar or higher yield and ultimate tensile strengths, but lower elongation than the non-clad rail. Application of post-heat treatment significantly improved the elongation of all the cladding layer specimens. Elongation increments of 70%, 192% and 90% were respectively obtained from the 410 L, SS420 and Stellite 6 post-heat treated cladding layers. The post-heat treatment also marginally increased the yield and ultimate tensile strengths in this region. The improvement in tensile properties was associated with a more favourable microstructure, which resulted in a more dimpled morphology as depicted in the SEM images of the fractographic analysis of the tested specimens. While other properties are similar, both cladding layer and HAZ specimens showed significant different elongation values between the longitudinal and transverse directions in some cases, which indicates certain anisotropy in those materials' ductility.