Residual Stress Analysis of Laser Cladded Commercially Pure Grade Titanium Alloy Plates

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of laser power on the microstructure, hardness, and residual stresses of laser-cladded titanium alloy. Laser powers of 600, 800, and 1000 W were varied while keeping other processing parameters constant. Microhardness and microstructure measurements were conducted using a Vickers microhardness tester and an optical microscope, respectively. Residual stresses were determined using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD). The results obtained revealed a non-linear relationship between microhardness and increasing laser power. Microstructural analysis indicated a transformation from all α grains to α′ martensite in the cladded zone, observed across all laser powers. Residual stress measurements showed a consistent tensile trend, decreasing with increasing laser power. The issue of increasing tensile residual stress can be mitigated by adjusting the laser power with minimal impact on the microstructure. These findings highlight the significant influence of processing parameters on surface properties, suggesting the potential for optimizing laser cladding parameters to enhance material corrosion and abrasion resistance properties.