Erosion and Corrosion Behavior of Laser Cladded Stainless Steels with Tungsten Carbide

Laser cladding of tungsten carbide (WC) on stainless steels 13Cr-4Ni and AISI 304 substrates has been
performed using high power diode laser. The cladded stainless steels were characterized for microstructural
changes, hardness, solid particle erosion resistance and corrosion behavior. Resistance of the clad to solid
particle erosion was evaluated using alumina particles according to ASTM G76 and corrosion behavior was
studied by employing the anodic polarization and open circuit potential measurement in 3.5% NaCl
solution and tap water. The hardness of laser cladded AISI 304 and 13Cr-4Ni stainless steel was increased
up to 815 and 725Hv100 g, respectively. The erosion resistance of the modified surface was improved
significantly such that the erosion rate of cladded AISI 304 (at 114 W/mm2) was observed 0.74 mg/cm2/h
as compared to 1.16 and 0.97 mg/cm2/h for untreated AISI 304 and 13Cr-4Ni, respectively. Laser cladding
of both the stainless steels, however, reduced the corrosion resistance in both NaCl and tap water.