applied

surface s c i e n c e
ELSEVIER Applied Surface Science 106 (1996) 258-262

Tungsten carbide laser alloying of a low alloyed steel

Mihai Cojocaru a.*, Mihaela Taca h
~' UniL,ersitatea 'Politehnica' Bucuresti, B 1.12 sc 2 et 3 al) 51 sect 6, Str. Baia de Aires No. 7, Bncharest, Romania
b S.C. Metaz, S.A., AL'iation Metallurgy, 1 6 - 1 8 Zapada Mieilor Str., P.O. Box 18, 71529 Bucharest-I Romania

Received 17 September 1995; accepted 31 December 1995

Abstract

Laser alloying is a way to change the composition of metal surfaces in order to improve their corrosion-resistance,
high-temperature strength and hardness. The results of a structural and phase analysis of a tungsten carbide based surface
layer prepared by laser alloying of a low carbon steel substrate are presented. Structure, phase composition and
microhardness of surface alloyed layers have been investigated. The surface of the samples exhibited a thin layer with a
different chemical and phase composition. An increase in alloyed surface hardness and wear-resistance was observed.

1. Introduction the alloyed layer depend on its preparation, e.g. laser

A laser alloying technique can be used for obtain-
ing thin surface layers on a low carbon steel in order
to increase its wear-resistance. Because of the high
cooling rates of laser heated surfaces, e.g. 103 to 107
K / s , nonequilibrium fine structures possessing in-
creased solid solubility limits, high microhardness
and good toughness can be developed which are
difficult to obtain with conventional surface treat-
ments [1]. The formation of amorphous and nonequi-
librium phases with extended solubilities of C, Cr,
Mo and W and good wear-resistance have been
reported [2]. The improved wear-resistance of laser
alloyed steel was associated with a fine distribution
of complex carbide precipitates such as (W,Cr)2C
and ( C r , W ) 7 C 3 in the matrix [3]. The properties of
: Corresponding author. Tel.: + 40-1-3120188.
beam power, traverse speed, feeding method and the
amount of the alloying material [4].
This paper presents the results of an investigation
of the structure and properties of a tungsten carbide
based surface layer on a low carbon steel substrate.
2. Experimental
2.1. Materials
The coating material was a mixture of TaC(0.4%),
Co(6%) and WC powders. The powder mixed with a
binder (epoxy resin) was applied to the steel surface
as a 1 mm thick layer [5].
The substrate material was 25CD4S steel (AIR
9160), with the following composition: 0.25% C,
0.7% Mn, 0.20% St, 0.02% S, 0.015% P, 1.10% Cr,
0.20% Mo. The steel specimens cut in rectangular
plates of 10 X 10 × 5 mm size were polished and
degreased before powder application.

0169-4332/96/$15.00 Copyright © 1996 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

P H S01 6 9 - 4 3 3 2 ( 9 6 ) 0 0 4 0 6 - 0
 M. Cojocaru, M. Taca/Applied Surface Science 106 (1996) 258 262 259

2.2. Laser processing parameters

A continuous wave CO2 laser operating at 1 kW

was used in the study. The laser beam was focused
by a lens with focal distance of 167 mm (spot
diameter = 2 mm). During laser treatment the work-
table was moving at the speed of either 5 or 7 m m / s
(specimens C05 and C07, respectively); the treated
surface was protected by argon flow.

2.3. Specimen characterization

Cross sections of the samples were polished and

Fig. 2. SEM of laser alloyed layer with fine dispersed carbides.
etched using Marble reagent. Microstructural charac-
terization of the alloyed layers was performed using
an optical microscope Reichert and a scanning elec-
tron microscope Philips SEM 515. Quantitative mi-
crochemistry data were obtained with an energy
dispersive X-ray analyser (EDAX). Microhardness
was measured with a Wolpert VTD 11 Vickers
tester.
The wear-resistance of the samples was evaluated
using a friction-wear testing machine by measuring
the friction force and the weight loss during the test
[6].
The tests were performed at the normal pressure
20 daN and sample speed 8 m / s , during 120 s.

3. Results Fig. 3. SEM of the central area of laser beam spot showing
dendritic solidification of carbides.
The samples cross section exhibits three clearly
defined zones: the first zone 70 to 100 /zm deep is

Fig. I. SEM of laser alloyed layer showing large, polygonal

recrystallised carbides. Fig. 4. SEM of alloyed layer, transitional region and substrate.
260 M. Cojocaru, M. Taca / Applied Surface Science 106 (1996) 258-262

PROBA "C 07"

ANALIZA PE CARBURA
TIME- iOOLSEC lOeV/ch
i400 !W L¢

i
i

li20

z 840

o
560

FeK~ i
'i i i
2BO

5. O0 I0. O0 15, O0
E N E FI G Y [KeV] E D A X
Fig. 5. Sample C07. Microana]ysis of carbide panicle.

an alloyed layer, with increased hardness and re- tempered layer; the two last zones belong to the heat
duced etchability; the second zone is a quenched affected zone of the substrate steel.
layer of the substrate steel, having a fine martensitic Scanning electron microscopy showed that the
structure and high hardness; the third zone is a alloyed layer is composed of an iron-tungsten solid

PROBA "C 07"

A N A L I Z A PE M A T R I C E

TIME- iOOLSEC iOeVlch

IIFeK~
3630 I

2904

o~z 2t78 t

1452

726

5. O0 I 0 . O0 15• O0

E N E R G Y [KeV] E D A X
Fig. 6. Sample C07. Microanalysis of the matrix.
 M. Cojocaru, M. Taca / Applied Surface Science 106 (1996) 258-262 261

PROBA C 07
A N A L I Z A PE ZONA DE TRECERE

TIME- tOOLSEC iOeV/ch

~940 FIK'~

i
~072
}i
i
ii
03

BOA
Z
:'3
0
{:-,1 53~ I
! ~i!i!

abe

F
oL~
5. oo i o . oo 15. oo

E N E FI 6 Y [KeV] EDAX

Fig. 7. Sample C07. Microanalysis of the transitional zone.

solution having an increased cobalt and chromium rial 25CD4S in tempered condition (sample '0'). As
content and complex tungsten carbides. Carbides can be seen from Table 1, the wear-resistance of the
morphology in the alloyed layer varies from large samples is 10 times higher than that of the substrate
recrystallised polygonal particles (Fig. 1) to finely sample.
dispersed globular ones (Fig. 2). In the central area
of the melted pool, where power density was the
highest, dendritic solidification of carbides is ob-
Table 1
served (Fig. 3). The transitional region between the Wear-resistance and microhardness (at a given depth) of laser
alloyed layer and substrate material is a multi-layer alloyed surface layers
zone, with decreasing tungsten content (Fig. 4). Sample Traverse speed Wear intensity Depth Microhardness
Changes in the surface layer chemistry were con- (mm/s) (kg/J) (mm) (/.~HV)
firmed by energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis 0 - 0.14× 10 -5 - 376
(EDAX, Figs. 5-7).
C07/1 7 0.70x 10 -6 0.08 1597
The hardness of the substrate material in tempered 0.12 1278
condition was 355 /zHV but in the re-quenched zone 0.30 1120
of the substrate hardness was found to be 650-700
C07/2 7 0.60x 10 6 0.05 1782
/zHV. The microhardness values measured in the 0.07 1456
alloyed layer were in the range of 1100-1700 /~HV 0.30 1214
for C07 samples and 1300-1900 /zHV for C05
C05/1 5 0.30x 10 -6 0.07 1918.5
samples. The microhardness in the transitional layer 0.15 1624
is 1000-1100 /~HV. 0.30 1378
Wear-intensity values for samples treated at two
C05/2 5 0.10×10 6 0.04 1822
different traverse speeds as well as their hardness as 0.17 1593
a function of depth are given in Table 1. They are 0.25 1340
compared with the wear-resistance of substrate mate-
262 M. Cojocaru, M. Taca /Applied SurJizce Science 106 (1996) 258-262
4. Conclusions
Laser treatment at a high power density of a low
alloyed steel coated with a mixture of WC, TaC and
Co powders results in carbide melting together with
the substrate surface and formation of a surface layer
consisting of carbide particles of various morpholo-
gies in the alloyed matrix.
The alloyed surface layers have wear-resistance
10 times higher than that of substrate steel in tem-
pered condition with microhardness in the range of
1100-1900 p~HV. An increase in the power density
increases both microhardness and wear resistance of
the alloyed layers.
Acknowledgements
The research was supported by M E T A V S.A.,
Metallurgy Aviation. The authors are indebted to
Sen. Researchers E. Alexandrescu and E. Vasile for
their assistance in electron and optical microscopy.
References
[1] N.N. Rykalin and A.A. Uglov, Laser Radiation and Electron
Beam (Mir, Moscow, 1988).
[2] H. Nagarathnam and K. Komvopoulos, Met. Trans. 24 A
(1993) 6.
[3] Max Hansen, Constitution of Binary Alloys (McGraw-Hill,
New York, 1958).
[4] S. Sircar, K. Chattopadhyay and J. Mazumder, Met. Trans. 23
A (1992) 2.
[5] N.N. Rykalin, A.A. Uglov and A.N. Kokora, Laser Welding
and Machining (Mir, Moscow, 1978).
[6] C. Atanasiu, Incercarea Materialelor, ed. Teh., Bucuresti
(1982).