Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of Laser Cladding-Deposited AISI 1060 Steel with a Mixture of 410L Alloy and 4140 Alloy Powders

The present research study focuses on the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of a post-laser cladding deposition (LCD) of a mixture of different proportions of customized 410L and 4140 steel powders (A)50:50, B)80:20, C)90:10) on an AISI 1060 substrate. The microstructure study was carried out by light optical (LOM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was also conducted for crystal structure analysis. The mechanical behavior of the LCD samples was investigated via Vickers hardness testing. Furthermore, surface evaluation was conducted via a roughness measurement tester. Finally, Taber abrasion tests were performed to assess wear resistance. Microstructural observations showed that a small-sized pore volume fraction characterized LCD coatings of all samples, and neither the bead zone nor heat-affected zone had any signs of defects such as insufficient dilution, alloying elements' microsegregation and internal cracks. Moreover, four sub-areas in HAZ were distinguished, owing to their different microstructural characteristics, determined by the rapid cooling rate and the scaled temperature distribution. Finally, the results of this study, regarding the mechanical properties results, showed that the increase of 410L powder ratio could ensure a combination of the highest hardness value and excellent wear resistance.