Laser Cladding of Tungsten Carbide
Importance of Tungsten Carbides
In applications like mining, and many marine applications, the tools are subjected to a very high amount of abrasion. For this, the tools must be very hard and must have high abrasion resistance. Carbides are suitable for this application as they have high abrasion resistance and are very hard. However, the problem with carbides is that they are very brittle. When subjected to high pressure, they can easily break. For this, there is a solution. The tools are made up of base materials like high carbon steels, mild steels, etc. They are ductile, malleable and also much cheaper than carbides. These tools are made up of MS/ SS / High Carbon steels, and then given a coating of carbides like tungsten carbide.Advantages of Laser Cladding of Tungsten Carbides:
- Hardness, high abrasion resistance and wear resistance of carbides
- Higher toughness of the base metal
- Solution is economical depending on the base material
Challenges of Laser Cladding of Tungsten Carbides:
Giving carbide layer to base metals also has some challenges.- The carbide coating may undergo cracks
- In marine applications, the salt water may penetrate the cracks in the carbide layer and come in contact with base material, and cause corrosion of base material reducing the life of the tool.
Laser Cladding Machine
- Laser power upto 10 kW (as per requirement)
- Linear track
- Robot with 7 motion axes.
- Powder feeder
- Chiller
- UPS
- Work table