Effects of Process Parameters on Geometrical Characteristics and Microstructure of TiC Particle-Reinforced Co50 Alloy by Laser Cladding

Laser cladding of Co50 alloy coating and Co50 composite coatings doped with 10, 20, and 30 wt.% TiC particles was performed on the H13 steel surface. The effects of TiC concentration on the phase composition, microstructure, and microhardness of the coatings were studied. The results indicated that, in 10% TiC coating, the “bright band” is a quite flat-growth tissue, while with 20% TiC, the “white bright band” contains a large amount of black TiC particles. The composite coating Co50, 10% TiC, and 20% TiC samples can clearly distinguish the cladding zone, bonding zone, and heat-affected zone, and a good metallurgical bond is formed between the coating and the substrate. The 30% TiC coating and the substrate are not well bonded, which is attributed to the high TiC content in the coating; however, it has the best surface morphology, and there is no porosity on the surface. 10% TiC coatings have poor surface quality, show a spraying material phenomenon on two side edges which is quite serious, and a lot of porosity on the surface of the coating. In addition, 10% TiC coating includes the original TiC particles and primary TiC particles that are precipitated in situ from the liquid phase during solidification; 20% TiC coating indicates a large amount of TiC in the form of cross petals and twigs, and the figure points out that TiC exists like a large number of diffusely distributed spherical structures in the 30% TiC coating. The coatings of TiC/Co composite with less than 20% TiC showed good metallurgical bonding characteristics with the H13 steel surface.