The comparision of tribological properties of the surface layer of the hot work tool steels obtained by laser alloying

Purpose: The paper presents the investigation results of the influence of laser remelting or alloying on the abrasive wear resistance of the X40CrMoV5-1 and 32CrMoV12-28 hot work tool steels surface, using the high power diode laser (High Power Diode Laser). Design/methodology/approach: The main goal of this work was to compare the abrasion wear resistance of those two steels before and after laser treatment consisting on remelting or alloying with carbide powders. The reason of this work was also to determine the laser treatment parameters, particularly the laser power, to achieve surface layer with better properties for example hardness which is connected with abrasive wear resistance of surface layers. Findings: A modification of tool steels surface using a laser beam radiation, as well as coating them with special pastes containing particles such as vanadium allows the essential improvement of the surface layer properties – their quality and abrasion resistance, decreasing at the same time the surface quality, what is dependent on the processing parameters such as energy of impulse and the time of its work. Surface layer obtained due to laser modification is characteristic of different properties than the native material. Research limitations/implications: The results present only four selected laser powers by one process speed rate. Also carbide powders were used for alloying with the particle size in a chosen range. Practical implications: The alloyed layers which were formed on the surface of the hot work steel have shown significant improvement. Good properties of the laser treatment make these layers suitable for various technical and industrial applications. Originality/value: Structural and tribological behaviour of surface layer achieved by alloying and remelting using high diode power laser and selected ceramic powders were compared.