Laser remelting as a surface modification strategy for wear resistance improvement in ultra-high-speed laser cladding fabricated H13 coatings

• Elemental segregation in UHSLC H13 coatings is eliminated by HSLR. • At 2200 W remelting power, HSLR decreases surface roughness by 41.45 %. • Wear resistance is substantially increased by microstructural refinement. Ultra-high-speed laser cladding (UHSLC) technique is widely regarded as an effective and efficient method for depositing H13 coatings on 27SiMn steel, aiming at improving the wear resistance of 27SiMn steel and prolonging its service life. However, the inherent rapid heating and rapid solidification in UHSLC process frequently result in micro-cracks, severe elemental segregation, surface defects, and compromised mechanical properties. To address these challenges, high-speed laser remelting (HSLR) was employed as a post-treatment process. The results indicate that HSLR significantly reduces elemental segregation, minimizes cracks, and smooths the surface roughness, thus improving the integrity of H13 coatings. Specifically, with 2200 W remelting power, results revealed 41.5 % less surface roughness and 60.4 % reduced wear loss. In addition, the remelting process enhances wear resistance by promoting the refinement of microstructural, ensuring the long-term stability of coatings under harsh conditions. This study emphasizes the potential of combining UHSLC with HSLR to produce high performance coatings with excellent wear resistance and structural uniformity.