Correlation between Microstructure and Tribological Properties of Laser Surface Heat-Treated Stellite Coatings

Abstract

To manufacture superior-performance continuous casting mold components, high-velocity oxygen fuel spraying of a Stellite-1 coating was followed by its laser heat treatment at 1373–1473 K using a diode laser. The effects of the laser irradiation conditions on the macro- and microstructural variations along with the hardness and wear resistance within the Stellite-1 coating were evaluated. After the heat treatment, micro-voids within the sprayed coating decreased in number slightly with an increase in the heat treatment temperature. The hardness of the sprayed Stellite-1 coating increased from that of the as-sprayed coating (680 HV) after the laser heat treatment, with a hardness of 860 HV obtained at 1473 K. The cause of the increase in hardness could be the formation of nano-sized W- and Cr-based carbides such as WC, M7C3, and M23C6, as suggested by transmission electron microscopy analysis. The tribological properties of as-sprayed and laser heat-treated samples were investigated by a pin-on-disk tribometer. The laser heat treatment of Stellite-1 coating enhanced wear resistance. This resulted in a lower coefficient of friction and wear rate for the laser heat-treated sample than those for the as-sprayed sample.