Production of laser cladding coating through quasicrystalline Al-Co-Fe-Cr alloy

Coatings were produced from quasicrystalline alloy powder Al₇₁Co₁₃Fe₈Cr+8 (at.%) by surface treatment, laser cladding and microstructurally characterized. The ingots were processed by rapid solidification by spray forming, with subsequent realization of Laser Cladding on commercially pure aluminum substrate. This process was carried out with ytterbium fiber laser by varying the laser parameters produced in each track, yielding various conditions by combination of parameters. Characterization was carried out by microscopic techniques, X-ray diffraction and mechanical Vickers microhardness testing, analyzing the interface between the coating and the substrate. The coating of Al₇₁Co₁₃Fe₈Cr₈ (at.%) alloy laser cladding presented a refined microstructure containing the μ-Al₅Co₂ and M-Al₁₃Co₄ phases. In microhardness tests, the coatings exhibit hardness values between 310 and 719 HV, significant values for Al alloy base, which opens prospects for applications requiring high wear resistance. (author)