Mechanical and tribological performance of fiber laser cladded h-BN+SS316 composite on SS316 surface

Laser cladding is a unique process for adding one material to the surface of another base material by utilizing high energy and coherent laser beam. For the present investigation, h-BN (hexagonal boron nitride) + SS316 composite coating was applied on SS316 substrate surface by fiber laser cladding operations. Under the influence of various input process parameters, the surface morphology, microstructure, X-ray diffraction, clad layer thickness, micro-hardness, and tribological behaviour of the composite coating were examined. The result showed good metallurgical bonding between the clad powder and substrate surface. Surface morphology did not show any pores and cracks on the clad surface. From FESEM analysis, the clad surface was found to be smooth and free from any crack propagation during laser processing. X-ray diffraction analysis showed formation of Fe3N, Cr2N, CrB, B2C5N2, gamma- (Ni, Fe), h-BN phases which are responsible for enhancing mechanical and tribological properties of the clad layer. During the study, the micro-hardness of the clad layer was found to increase with an increase in % v/v of h-BN by 2-2.5 times compared (525 HV0.3) to parent material (220 HV0.3). Further, dry sliding wear test was carried out with Pin-On-Disc which showed that the coefficient of friction value decreased significantly from 0.560 (parent surface) to 0.251 (clad surface).