CO₂ laser cladding of an aluminum alloy with carbide by powder injection

High power CO₂ lasers can be used to clad metal surfaces with carbides by powder injection. The results show that a coat thickness of the order of several hundreds of μm without any defects can be achieved. Laser surface cladding of steel substrates with carbides by powder injection has been studied extensively. This process must be adapted for improvements of the surface properties of aluminum alloys. The tribological properties of aluminum alloys are poor. Improvements of these properties are possible by means of microstructural modifications to the surface. One method is particle injection. The present study examines CO₂ laser treatment of aluminum alloy by SiC injection. The mechanical, tribological and metallurgical properties of the resulting clad are investigated. It is found that improved surface hardness and wear properties occur with no pores or cracks in the treated zone.