Nd-YAG laser cladding of Cr3C2 and TiC cermets

This paper describes the modification of surface properties by using the pulsed Nd-YAG laser cladding of carbide cermets onto the various base materials with the varying percentage content of metal carbide. The results show that as the metal carbide content is decreased from 70 to 30 wt.%, the cracks are reduced but the hardness is decreased considerably. Macro- and micro-cross-sections, hardness profiles and erosion tests have been employed to characterize the cladding. The results are correlated with the clad quality and are discussed as a function of the processing parameter. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.