Abstract
Laser surface modification of UNS S31600 stainless steel using coarse unclad WC powder (particle size ≈60 μm) for enhancing cavitation erosion resistance was attempted. WC powder was preplaced on as-received S31600 substrate and irradiated by a high-power CW Nd:YAG laser to form a metal-matrix composite (MMC) layer on the substrate. By varying the laser fluence, MMC layers consisting of 3-28 vol.% of WC particles were formed. The microstructure, composition, and the phases present in the modified layer were studied by optical microscopy (OM), energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The cavitation erosion resistance Rein 3.5% NaCl solution was determined using an ultrasonic vibratory facility. Rewas found to attain a maximum value (10.7 times that of as-received S31600) at 9 vol.% of WC. The damaged surface after the cavitation erosion test was studied by SEM to identify the damage mechanism. The variation of Rewith the volume fraction of WC was explained in terms of the erosion mechanism of the matrix and the WC particles.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 168-180 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Materials Science and Engineering A |
| Volume | 357 |
| Issue number | 1-2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 25 Sept 2003 |
Keywords
- Cavitation erosion
- Laser surface modification
- S31600 stainless steel
- Unclad tungsten carbide
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Mechanics of Materials
- Mechanical Engineering