Microstructure and mechanical characteristics of laser coating–texturing alloying dimples

A novel laser coating–texturing (LCT) technique was proposed to achieve appropriate surface topographies and frictional behaviour. The LCT process was realized by applying laser pulses at very high repetition rate to produce innumerable micro-craters with required shape profile on the surface of the workpiece. Moreover, surface alloying of the dimples was carried out by melting submicron WC–TiC–Co alloy powder on the substrates. Morphology and microstructures of the texturing layers were characterised using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Mechanical properties of the textured samples were evaluated by abrasive resistance tests and microhardness measurement. Experimental results show that good fusion bonding between the texturing layers and the substrate has been formed, and the texturing layers are mainly composed of dense and hard fine-grained structures. The abrasive wear resistance of the laser coating-textured surface was 10 times higher than that of the substrates. The average surface microhardness values were as high as 830 HV.