Home      Exposition      To Register      ASM Homepage
Back to "Session 12: PTA & Laser Surfacing 2" Search
  Back to "Equipment and Processes" Search  Back to Main Search

Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 4:40 PM
EAP4.4

Optimization of Laser Cladding Process using Taguchi and EM Methods for MMC Coating Production

L. Dubourg, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC, Canada; L. St-Georges, REMAC Industrial Innovators, Saguenay, QC, Canada

This study investigated the influence of the laser cladding parameters on the geometry and composition of metal-matrix composite (MMC) coatings. Composite coatings were made of a Ni-Cr-B-Si metallic matrix and of WC reinforcement powder with a volume fraction of 50 %. Optical microscopy was used to characterize the coating geometry (height, width and penetration depth) and to determine the real volumetric content of WC. Laser cladding on low carbon steel substrate was carried out using a cw Nd:YAG laser, a coaxial powder injection system and a combination of Taguchi and E.M. methods to design the experiments. This combination was used to explore efficiently the multidimensional volume of laser cladding parameters. The results, which express the interrelationship between laser cladding parameters and responses, can be used to find optimum laser parameters, to predict the responses and to increase process robustness.

Summary: This study investigated the influence of the laser cladding parameters on the geometry and composition of metal-matrix composite (MMC) coatings, made of a Ni-Cr-B-Si metallic matrix and of WC reinforcement powder, using Taguchi and E.M. methods.