Abstract
Laser cladding was used to produce surface composite layer reinforced with TiC particles on low-carbon steel alloy for improving the wear and corrosion resistances. The cladding process was carried out at powers of 2800, 2000, 1500, and 1000 W, and a fixed traveling speed of 4 mm/s. The produced layers are free from any cracks. Some of the TiC particles were melted and then re-solidified in the form of fine acicular dendrites. The amount of the melted TiC was increased by increasing the laser power. The hardness of the produced layers was improved by about 19 times of the base metal. Decreasing laser power led to hardness increment at the free surface. The improvement in wear resistance was reached to about 25 times (in case of 1500 W) of the base metal. Moreover, the corrosion resistance shows remarkable improvement after the laser treatment. (C) The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society and ASM International 2016