Wear resistance of laser cladded Stallite 31 coating on AISI 316L steel

Laser cladding of Stellite 31 powder on AISI 316L plate size of 50 x 50 x 25 mm using diode laser powers of 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0 kW was produced. The wear tests of clad layers were investigated according to ASTM G99. Equiaxed and elongated grains were found in clad layer using laser powers of 3.5, 4.0 kW and 4.0, 5.0 kW, respectively. Compressive residual stress was detected at the surface of the clad layers. They decreased as laser power increased. After polishing, compressive residual stress and the wear resistance of the clad layers subjected to higher laser power were higher than those subjected to lower laser power. The friction coefficient of the clad layer subjected to higher laser power was lower than that subjected to lower laser power.