Recent Research Developments in Laser Cladding Technology for Mold Steel Repair

Laser cladding (LC) is widely used in metal surface modification and part repair because of its advantages such as small heat-affected zone, low dilution rate, and small thermal deformation to the substrate. This paper discusses the application of LC in repairing molds. Firstly, the principle and characteristics of LC are discussed; due to the different failure modes of three different types of mold steels (cold-work mold steel, hot-work mold steel, plastic mold steel) in practice, the effects of LC on friction wear and corrosion performance of cold-work mold steel, LC on high-temperature friction and thermal fatigue performance of hot-work mold steel, as well as the effects of LC on the wear and corrosion performance of plastic mold steel, are explored; finally, issues such as cracking, residual stress, elemental segregation, and difficulties in subsequent processing are identified in laser cladding (LC) applications for mold repair. Future research is expected to focus on the development of novel cladding materials, artificial intelligence-based prediction of coating performance, as well as enhanced auxiliary processing and post-treatment techniques.