Microstructure and wear characteristics of laser clad Al-12%Si, Al-30%Si and AlSi/WC on Magnesium alloy

Although magnesium alloys possess a set of desirable properties such as low specific weight and high specific strength that make them attractive to automotive and aerospace industries, they have poor wear and corrosion resistance compared to that of steel or aluminium alloys. This is due to their relatively low surface hardness and high chemical affinity for numerous elements. This study investigates the microstructure and wear characteristics of clad layers made of Al-12% Si, Al-30%Si, and a mixture of Al-12%Si (40%) and WC (60%). The claddings were deposited on creep resistant AS21 magnesium alloys using a high power Nd: YAG laser. The results indicate that the clad layers have better wear resistance than the substrate.