Corrosion and Tribological Behavior of Laser Processed 13Cr-4Ni and AISI 304 Stainless Steels.

Abstract

Laser cladding to improve the corrosion and cavitation resistance of stainless steels 13Cr-4Ni and AISI 304 was performed with a high power diode laser (HPDL) using Stellite powder. Dendrite and interdendrite microstructure was evolved with a significant compositional difference on the surface. In the interdendritic region, Co and Cr were found to change with increase in the HPDL energy density from 32 to 52 J/mm². Increase in the hardness, by 2.5 to 3.0 times, was achieved after modifying the surface of 13Cr-4Ni and AISI 304. HPDL cladding could enhance the pitting resistance such that the pitting potential increased to as high as +379 mV from -41 mV and +244 mV for untreated 13Cr-4Ni and for AISI 304 stainless steel. Laser cladding reduced the mass loss due to cavitation erosion to 1 mg (at 32 J/mm² HPDL energy density) from 79 and 136 mg for untreated 13Cr-4Ni and AISI 304 stainless steel in 3.5% NaCl solution. Copyright of Lasers in Engineering (Old City Publishing) is the property of Old City Publishing, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.