CC BY
17LMI-I-15
Production of wear resistant surface zones with high power laser technologies
M. Seifert1, S. Kuehn1, M. Barbosa2, S. Nowotny2, C. Leyens3 1Fraunhofer IWS Dresden, Heat Treatment and Plating, Dresden, Germany 2Fraunhofer IWS Dresden, Thermal Coating, Dresden, Germany 3Fraunhofer IWS Dresden, Director, Dresden, Germany
Surface engineering to increase the wear resistance of components is required in any kind by almost all industrial sectors. This is often achieved by applying thermal surface treatments or wear-resistant coatings. Which process, or which coating material, to choose will depend not only on the required surface properties but also on economic and technical challenges. Additionally, there is an increasing demand for more cost-efficient processes and materials.
This contribution gives an overview over different high-performance laser surface technology solutions (laser hardening, laser cladding and laser shock peening). Even if the basic mechanisms of the laser based technologies are fully different, the aim to increase the wear resistance and lifetime of parts is the same.
In laser hardening the microstructure of steel or cast iron components is modified by thermal processing in the solid state. Advantages of this technology over conventional heat treatment processes are its high precision combined with very short process time, low energy consumption and low heat input, which results in low distortion and reduced efforts to finish the final contour in the process chain. The basics of the laser hardening technology and new concepts of process control are presented.
Laser cladding with modern laser types and process-specific laser heads covers applications from the micro to macro scale today. Powder or wire can be used as feedstock to deposit various materials for applications in surface cladding and repair. The advantages and some best practices of the actual laser cladding technology will be shown for industrial relevant applications.
One aim of the laser shock peening technology similar to other laser technologies is also to strengthen metallic surfaces (i.e. at steel, aluminum or titanium components) by using a laser induced mechanical shock wave. But often more relevant for applications is its strong influence on residual stresses at and near the treated surface. This makes the shock peening technology ideal for post-treatment of surfaces after previous manufacturing steps like welding, cladding or local heat treatment. First results of laser peening of laser heat treated steel grades are presented.
