Laser cladding of Ni60 + 17 − 4PH composite for a cracking-free and corrision resistive coating

In order to obtain a laser-cladded coating with no cracking and good corrosion resistance, this paper investigated laser cladding of a mixture of 17-4PH stainless steel and Ni60 powders on ASTM 1045 steel substrate. The surface cracking, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the coatings were assessed by various characterization methods. The experimental results demonstrated that a crack-free coating can be obtained by adding 30% (or above) 17-4PH stainless steel into Ni60 alloy. The mechanical properties of the coatings were determined by adding 17-4PH, but stabilized at about 79% of pure Ni60 alloy, which is acceptable considering the benefit of elimination of surface cracking. Decrease in the mechanical properties were caused by the dilution of the strengthening elements and reduction of population of hard phases. Composite coating having 30% of 17-4PH also exhibited the smallest corrosion current, lowest corrosion potential and slowest corrosion rate, and therefore the best corrosion resistance.