Experimental study on the laser cladding of H13+H13/20%WC composite coating on H13 steel surface

H13+H13/20%WC composite coating was prepared on the surface of H13 steel using laser cladding technology. Bonding performance between the coating and substrate, microstructure and composition evolution, hardness and wear resistance of the coating has been studied and analyzed. Research results indicated that the composite coating was metallurgically bonded with the substrate. The fine and dense microstructure was mainly composed of dendrites, intergranular Fe and Cr rich eutectic and carbides. Slight elements diffusion occurred at the interface between the substrate and the composite cladding layer. The surface of the H13/20%WC coating was mainly composed of α-Fe Fe-Cr compounds, and carbides, which resulted in a high hardness of 626.9HV in average. The wear resistance of the cladding layer was better than the bare substrate. The wear patterns were abrasive wear and oxidation wear. The research results were supposed to provide a reference for the modification of H13 steel mold and die surface.