Microstructure and Properties of M3B2-Type Boride-Based Cermet Coatings Prepared by Laser Cladding Synthesis

The Effect of Laser Power on the Properties of M3B2-Type Boride-Based Cermet Coatings Prepared by Laser Cladding Synthesis

Boride-based cermet can serve as a good protective coating for low-corrosion and wear-resistant materials, such as carbon steels, due to their mechanical and chemical properties. In this study, M₃B₂ (M: Mo, Ni, Fe, and Cr) boride-based cermet coatings were fabricated on Q235 steel with mixed powders of Mo, B, Ni60, and Cr by laser cladding synthesis, and the effects of laser power on the properties of the cermet layer were investigated. Three laser powers (2200, 2500, and 2800 W) were used at the same scanning speed. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis confirmed that all the coatings were composed of M₃B₂-type borides and {Fe, Ni} alloys. The micro-hardness, corrosion, and frictional experiments showed that the cermet coatings enhanced the corresponding performances of the Q235 steels at the three laser powers. However, the micro-hardness of the coatings decreased as the power increased, and the maximum micro-hardness value was 1166.3 HV (Vickers Hardness). The results of the corrosion and frictional experiments showed that the best performance was obtained at a laser power of 2500 W, followed by 2800 and 2200 W.

Investigation on Microstructure, Hardness, and Corrosion Resistance of Mo–Ni–B Coatings Prepared by Laser Cladding Technique

The hard and corrosion resistant coatings of Mo2NiB2 cermet were prepared by the laser cladding technique. The influences of the Mo:B ratio and the laser scanning speed on the microstructure and property of the Mo2NiB2 cermet coatings were investigated. The results showed that the laser scanning speed of 1.5 mm/s and the Mo:B ratio of 1 were more beneficial to the formation of Mo2NiB2 cermet than 2.0 mm/s and 0.8, 1.2, respectively. The amount of the Mo2NiB2 ceramic phases were decreased from the top layer to the bottom layer of the coating. The changes of microstructure and composition led to the changes of hardness and corrosion resistance of the Mo2NiB2 cermet coatings. The coating prepared at the Mo:B ratio of 1 and the scanning speed of 1.5 mm/s possessed the highest hardness, and the hardness gradually decreased from the top layer to the bottom layer of the coating. The formation of Mo2NiB2 and {FeM} phases led to the enhanced corrosion resistance of the Mo2NiB2 cermet coatings, and the coating prepared at the Mo:B ratio of 0.8 possessed the best corrosion resistance and the minimum corrosion current.