Classification and characteristics of common laser cladding powders

1. Self melting alloy powder
characteristic:
Containing B and Si (functions: deoxidation, slagging).
Substrate adaptability.
It can be widely used in various materials including carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, and cast iron, but it is not suitable for steel with high sulfur content because the sulfur in the steel will form a low melting point brittle substance at the interface, which is easy to cause the melting layer to fall off.
Categories: Iron based alloys, nickel based alloys, cobalt based alloys

2. Ceramic powder
Characteristics: Ceramic powder has excellent wear resistance, corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance, and oxidation resistance, so it is often used to prepare high-temperature wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant coatings.
Classification: Silicide ceramic powder, oxide ceramic powder (Al2O3 and ZrO2)
Disadvantages:
The thermal expansion coefficient, elastic modulus, and thermal conductivity of the cladding layer differ significantly from those of the base metal, and the cladding layer is prone to cracking and porosity defects, resulting in deformation, cracking, peeling, and damage during use.

3. Composite powder
Composite powder mainly refers to the powder system formed by mixing or compounding high melting point hard ceramic materials with metals.
Characteristics: The strong toughness of metals, good processability, and excellent wear resistance, corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance, and oxidation resistance of ceramic materials are organically combined.
Composite powder system:
Carbide alloy powders (WC, SiC, TiC, B4C, Cr3C2, etc.)
Oxide alloy powders (Al2O3, Zr2O3, TiO2, etc.)
Nitride alloy powder (TiN, Si3N4)
Boride alloy powder
Silicide alloy powder

4. Other metal powders
Copper based, titanium based, aluminum based, magnesium based, zirconium based, chromium based, and intermetallic compound materials. Most of these materials utilize certain special properties of alloy systems to achieve one or more functions such as wear resistance, friction reduction, corrosion resistance, conductivity, high temperature resistance, and thermal oxidation resistance.