Structure and properties of laser-cladded Inconel 625-based in situ composite coatings on S355JR substrate modified with Ti and C powders

This article presents the research results on the production of laser-cladded Inconel-625 in situ composite coatings on the S355JR substrate by addition of titanium and graphite powders to pure Inconel 625 alloy powder mixture for increased hardness and erosive wear resistance of the coatings. The research featured in the article includes penetrant testing, macro-, and microscopic observations of produced coatings, phase and chemical composition analysis, hardness and solid particle erosion tests. The results showed that the addition of titanium and graphite powders resulted in the composite microstructure formation by precipitation of Ti, Nb, Mo, and C-rich blocky and eutectic particles during crystallization. The conducted tests revealed that the microstructure change resulted in an increase in hardness and erosive wear resistance by 27% and 30%, respectively.