Cladding of pre-blended Ti–6Al–4V and WC powder for wear resistant applications

In this paper, a cladding investigation to achieve uniform distribution of WC particles which is crack-free, non-porous and without delamination using a 2 kW IPG Ytterbium doped, continuous wave, fibre laser with 1070 nm wavelength was reported. The single track deposition of a pre-blended powder, 27 wt.% Ti–6Al–4V/73 wt.% WC with a particle size range of 40–120 μm was made on Ti–15V–3Cr–3Sn–3Al substrate using a co-axial nozzle and a standard powder feeding system. The laser cladding samples were subjected to various microstructure examinations, microhardness and micro-abrasion tests. The results revealed that the best clad layers were achieved at an energy density of 111.10 J.mm−2, 15–18.3 mm.s−1 traverse speed; (583–667) mg.s−1 powder feed rate with substrate surface irradiated by laser beam raising its temperature to about 200 °C. This resulted in a uniform distribution of WC within the clad and the results obtained from SEM, EDS and XRD revealed that the WC particles experienced surface melting with some diffusion into the matrix, thus promoting excellent bonding with the matrix and the formation of titanium and tungsten carbides, which include TiC and W2C. The emergence of β-Ti, TiC and W in the clad resulted in enhanced hardness values. The mean value of microhardness in clad matrix is 678 HV when measured from the top of a transverse cross section of the clad sample into the interface region with the Ti substrate which has a hardness of 396 HV. Wear tests indicated the wear resistance of the clad was seven times that of the Ti alloy substrate.