Mechanical properties of laser cladded steel

Abstract

Laser cladding is a new technique that results in a surface layer of intermediate thickness intimately bonded to a substrate. This paper reports studies of the mechanical properties of a Co-Cr laser cladded steel substrate. Mechanical tests include hardness profiles, and tensile and low cycle fatigue. Results show that the interface between substrate and clad is very strong. Composites consisting of the clad, heat affected zone, and substrate exhibit good strain hardening and ductility. In low cycle fatigue, the number of cycles to failure for the composite is somewhat lower than for the substrate material alone for all strain amplitudes. However, the situation is reversed for stress versus number of cycles to failure. Residual stresses created during cladding survive throughout the lifetime in low cycle fatigue tests for small strain amplitudes, but vanish for higher strain amplitudes.