Laser Cladding is a method of depositing material by which a powdered or wire feedstock material is melted and consolidated by use of a laser in order to coat part of a substrate or fabricate a near-net shape part. It can be used for repairing high-cost components such as industrial turbine blades.
Advantages
• Best technique for coating any shape => increase life-time of wearing parts.
• Particular dispositions for repairing parts (ideal if the mould of the part no longer exist or too long time needed for a new fabrication).
• Most suited technique for graded material application.
• Well adapted for near-net-shape manufacturing.
• Low dilution between track and substrate (unlike other welding processes and strong metallurgical bond.
• Low deformation of the substrate and small heat affected zone (HAZ).
• High cooling rate => fine microstructure.
• A lot of material flexibility (metal, ceramic, even polymer).
• Built part is free of crack and porosity.
• Compact technology.
