Analysis of the Application Prospects of Laser Cladding in Surface Repair

With the continuous development of modern science, technology, and industry, the working environment of components has become increasingly complex, and the requirements for surface performance have also grown higher. As a result, the scrap rate of parts has significantly increased. Components that are often scrapped due to surface failure include rotor blades, roller shaft parts, gear components, joint parts, etc.

For parts with only surface damage, if their overall performance meets the usage conditions, they can be repaired. If components scrapped due to improper processing or service damage can be restored, it not only saves significant economic and time losses but also improves resource utilization, aligning with China's sustainable development strategy.

Currently, methods for repairing parts include laser cladding, vacuum brazing, vacuum coating, tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, and plasma cladding repair. Laser cladding involves melting metals or non-metals with various designed compositions according to the working conditions of the workpiece, preparing surfaces with properties such as heat resistance, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, oxidation resistance, fatigue resistance, or optical, electrical, and magnetic characteristics.

Laser cladding is a rapid cooling process. During cladding, the heat input to the repaired workpiece is minimal, the heat-affected zone is small, the cladding layer has a fine microstructure, and the process is easily automated. Therefore, using laser cladding for component repair offers greater advantages compared to other methods. Laser cladding technology addresses a series of technical challenges that are unavoidable in traditional thermal processing techniques such as electric welding and argon arc welding, including thermal deformation and thermal fatigue damage. It also resolves issues related to the bonding strength between the coating and the substrate in traditional cold processing techniques, such as inconsistencies in electroplating and spraying, providing an excellent approach for surface repair. Additionally, lasers can be used to repair damaged three-dimensional complex parts, fully demonstrating the flexibility and advancement of laser remanufacturing technology.