Investigation of the Implementation of Laser Surface Alloying of Cu with Cr-WC

Justyna Domagała-Dubiel; Katarzyna Bilewska; Mirosława Pawlyta; Joanna Kulasa; Damian Janicki

doi:10.3390/ma15155396

Investigation of the Implementation of Laser Surface Alloying of Cu with Cr-WC

Materials (Basel). 2022 Aug 5;15(15):5396. doi: 10.3390/ma15155396.

Authors

Justyna Domagała-Dubiel¹, Katarzyna Bilewska¹, Mirosława Pawlyta², Joanna Kulasa¹, Damian Janicki³

Affiliations

¹ Łukasiewicz Research Network, Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals, Sowinskiego 5, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland.
² Materials Research Laboratory, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 18A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland.
³ Department of Welding Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 18A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland.

Abstract

This paper presents research on the microstructure and mechanical properties of an alloyed composite copper (Cu) surface layer, reinforced with a mixture of chromium-tungsten carbide (Cr-WC) powders. Copper alloying was performed using a high-power diode laser (HPDL). In the tests, three mixtures of powders with different percentage contents (75%Cr 25%WC, 50%Cr 50%WC, 25%Cr 75%WC) were injected into the melting pool during the laser surface alloying process. Microstructural evolution and the properties of the surface layer of copper after laser alloying were investigated. Structural investigations were performed using light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Microhardness and wear resistance of the modified surface layer were examined as well. After laser treatment the applied powders appear as uniformly distributed particles in the alloyed zone as well as nanoscale precipitates in the Cu matrix. Several types of precipitate characteristics, in terms of morphology, structure and chemical composition, were observed. Laser alloying of the surface layer modified the microstructure, which resulted in an increase in the hardness of the surface layers compared to the base material.

Keywords: Cr–WC powders; alloyed zone (AZ); copper; laser surface alloying (LSA); mechanical properties; microstructure.

Grants and funding

The study was carried out as part of the project LIDER/33/0091/L-7/NCBR/2016 “Laser surface treatment of selected copper alloys on high-current constructional elements”, financed by NCBiR and Statutory Work of Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals“Study of possibility of regeneration of high-current structural elements in the laser surface treatment process”.