Effect of the laser fusion of electrometallized coatings of the Fe-Cr-B-Al system on their corrosion resistance

We studied the effect of laser treatment of electric arc coatings produced of powder wires of the Fe-Cr-B system on the changes in their structure, electrolytic potential, and polarization currents. We additionally introduced aluminum, nickel, and copper to the charge of these coatings. Laser treatment was realized by means of Nd: YAG laser radiation. We have shown that the addition of a small amount of these elements to the coating under study in different ways affects the character of formation, structure, and electrochemical characteristics of the fused layer. In particular, copper and nickel additions increase the fluidity of the coating. The parameters of laser treatment affect strongly the uniformity of the distribution of elements in the fused zone. In the case of alloying with copper, the nonuniformity of their distribution is more pronounced, which can exert a slight negative influence on the corrosion characteristics of the coating. Aluminum addition improves the corrosion resistance of laser-modified coatings. __________ Translated from Fizyko-Khimichna Mekhanika Materialiv, Vol. 42, No. 6, pp. 106–110, November–December, 2006.