Laser cladding is a welding overlay technique which applies metal or metal alloy materials to metallic surfaces as a coating, either to dimensionally restore a worn component or to protect a working surface from wear or corrosion.
Compared to traditional weld overlay techniques, laser cladding has distinct advantages: It uses exceptionally low heat, low dilution between the overlay material and the component surface, a small heat-affected zone (typically less than 1mm deep), and often with no need for any heat treatment after application. Laser cladding overlays can be used to repair even the most demanding components.
Laser cladding allows for precise, localised repairs and application onto geometries like blade edges and component corners. This precise control, along with the metallurgical benefits of this technology make laser cladding the perfect solution for heat-sensitive components that are exposed to harsh erosive, abrasive or corrosive environments.
Thermaspray’s laser cladding service holds multiple benefits for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and end-users in all industries. OEM customers benefit through using laser cladding overlays to improve the wear or corrosion resistance of critical surfaces in the equipment they supply, thereby extending the service life and reducing the running cost of their equipment.
For end-user customers, Thermaspray's laser cladding is used to refurbish components damaged by wear or corrosion. Laser cladding overlays can improve the performance and extend the service life of components by restoring them to a better-than-new state.
Thermaspray’s laser, along with various optics for repairing different geometries (including internal diameters), ensures that Thermaspray is fully capable of meeting clients’ needs in refurbishment applications ranging from shafts and rotors to valves, housings, and mining equipment.
Benefits of Laser Cladding:
- Metallurgical bond to the component makes the overlay resistant to impact and point-loading
- Non-porous overlays
- Heat-affected zone significantly smaller than traditional welding overlays
- Little to no distortion of components as heat input can be precisely controlled
- Up to 15% less dilution between component surface and overlay compared to traditional welding overlays
- Overlay thickness per layer between 0.5 – 2mm which can be precisely controlled
- High repeatability and stability as the process is robotically controlled
- Wider range of component materials can be repaired compared to traditional welding overlays
- Often no need for heat treatment after component is repaired due to low heat input
