TY - JOUR
T1 - Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Laser-Clad Stellite 6 Coatings with Thermal Field Assistance
AU - Chen, Qing
AU - Sun, Yu
AU - Duan, Xuxing
AU - Qiu, Xinyuan
AU - Zhang, Xianjun
AU - Ren, Weize
AU - Liu, Yi
AU - Zhao, Zirui
AU - Tian, Wenxi
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 by the authors.
PY - 2026/2
Y1 - 2026/2
N2 - This study examines in situ induction-heating thermal field assistance during laser cladding of Stellite 6 on 17-4PH stainless steel. Single-layer, multi-track coatings (~2.3 mm) were produced at induction powers of 0, 300, 600, and 900 W while keeping laser parameters constant. Surface morphology, phase constituents, and microstructures were characterized by LSCM, OM, XRD, SEM, EDS, and EBSD, and nanoscale features were probed by TEM for the 600 W condition; microhardness and coating-only tensile properties were evaluated. Thermal assistance improved surface finish (minimum Sa = 16.67 μm at 600 W) and suppressed hot cracking. XRD/EBSD revealed a γ-Co matrix with interdendritic carbides and an increased ε-Co fraction under thermal assistance; TEM further showed stacking-fault lamellae and a distinct FCC/HCP interface, supporting a fault-assisted, diffusionless γ → ε transformation. Increasing induction power coarsened the microstructure (larger DE and SDAS), decreasing hardness from 537.1 to 461.5 HV0.1 and lowering yield/ultimate strengths from 1046 MPa and 1512 MPa to 849 MPa and 1423 MPa, while elongation increased from 4.37% to 6.27%. Considering crack-free valve hardfacing with acceptable strength loss and improved ductility, 600 W provides the best overall performance.
AB - This study examines in situ induction-heating thermal field assistance during laser cladding of Stellite 6 on 17-4PH stainless steel. Single-layer, multi-track coatings (~2.3 mm) were produced at induction powers of 0, 300, 600, and 900 W while keeping laser parameters constant. Surface morphology, phase constituents, and microstructures were characterized by LSCM, OM, XRD, SEM, EDS, and EBSD, and nanoscale features were probed by TEM for the 600 W condition; microhardness and coating-only tensile properties were evaluated. Thermal assistance improved surface finish (minimum Sa = 16.67 μm at 600 W) and suppressed hot cracking. XRD/EBSD revealed a γ-Co matrix with interdendritic carbides and an increased ε-Co fraction under thermal assistance; TEM further showed stacking-fault lamellae and a distinct FCC/HCP interface, supporting a fault-assisted, diffusionless γ → ε transformation. Increasing induction power coarsened the microstructure (larger DE and SDAS), decreasing hardness from 537.1 to 461.5 HV0.1 and lowering yield/ultimate strengths from 1046 MPa and 1512 MPa to 849 MPa and 1423 MPa, while elongation increased from 4.37% to 6.27%. Considering crack-free valve hardfacing with acceptable strength loss and improved ductility, 600 W provides the best overall performance.
KW - mechanical properties
KW - microstructure
KW - Stellite 6 laser cladding
KW - thermal field assistance
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105031375012
U2 - 10.3390/coatings16020200
DO - 10.3390/coatings16020200
M3 - 文章
AN - SCOPUS:105031375012
SN - 2079-6412
VL - 16
JO - Coatings
JF - Coatings
IS - 2
M1 - 200
ER -