Microstructure and Wear Resistance of Multi-Layer Ni-Based Alloy Cladding Coating on 316L SS under Different Laser Power

We prepared three kinds of Ni based alloy cladding coatings on 316L stainless steel at different power levels. The microstructure of the cladding layer was observed and analyzed by XRD, metallographic microscope, and SEM. The hardness of the cladding layer was measured, and the wear resistance of it was tested by a friction instrument. The results show that the effect of laser cladding is good, and it has good metallurgical bonding with the substrate. Different microstructures such as dendritic and equiaxed grains can be observed in the cladding layer. With the increase in laser power, more equiaxed and columnar dendrites can be observed. The phase composition of the cladding layer is mainly composed of γ-Ni solid solution and some intermetallic compounds such as Ni₃B, Cr₅B_3, and Ni₁₇Si₃. The results of EDS show that there are some differences in the distribution of C and Si between dendrites. The hardness of the cladding layer is about 600 HV_0.2, which is about three times of the substrate (~200 HV_0.2). Through the analysis of the wear morphology, the substrate wear is serious, there are serious shedding, mainly adhesive wear, and abrasive wear. However, the wear of the cladding layer is slight, which is abrasive wear, and there are some grooves on the surface.