Numerical simulation of temperature field of 42CrMo alloy steel laser-melted Ni60 coating

Abstract To ascertain the ideal process parameters for laser cladding on the surface of oil drill pipes, comprehensive consideration was given to the interactions of heat conduction, convection, radiation, metal phase change, and solidification. Utilizing COMSOL software, a 3D numerical model of the temperature field for 42CrMo substrate laser cladding with Ni60 powder was developed, taking into account the thermophysical parameters’ variation with temperature. The heat source model was also optimized, factoring in the shielding effect of particles on the laser beam. The impact of laser power, powder feed rate, and scanning velocity on the temperature distribution in laser cladding was examined through simulations. Analysis of the molten pool’s temperature, width, and depth led to the identification of the best settings as 1300 W power, 13 g/min feed rate, and 5 mm/s scanning speed.