Laser-modified wire arc cladding

The deposition of functional cladding layers is a widely adopted technique to enhance the surface performance of engineering components without compromising their bulk material properties. Among the available techniques, wire arc cladding offers high productivity and is particularly effective for depositing relatively thick coatings. Thanks to its high hardness and reasonable toughness, Stellite 6 alloy is well-suited for wear-resistant claddings; however, its application through various welding processes is often accompanied by cracking. In this study, we propose and experimentally investigate a novel approach to wire arc cladding of this Co-based alloy that integrates localized in-situ heat treatment using a defocused oscillating laser beam. The laser-assisted process produced continuous and more uniform cladding layers. Compared to conventional wire arc cladding, the cooling rate decreased by 40 %, resulting in improved bead homogenization and fewer welding voids, while maintaining comparable microhardness after two passes. Enhanced bead fusion, facilitated by the laser, enabled very high deposition speed without compromising the structural integrity of the claddings.