Study on structures and properties of the laser cladding exhaust valve after service

The cobalt base laser cladding layers which were built up on the exhaust valve head face of the heavy loaded marine diesel engine have been investigated. The valve head with cladded face were served successfully for 3000 hours in the engine of the Dar Młodzieży. After removing from the valve head from the cylinder head the face surface were fully inspected. The surface topography and roughness were evaluated. Microstructure on the cross section of the clad layer were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS. Also microhardness of the clad layer was measured. The service conditions resulted with the formation of the scale which had different thickness and tended to cracking and spalling. The microstructure of the clad layers after service did not demonstrated serious degradation process. The decrease of the hardness numbers was observed but still clad layer presented higher hardness than steel base. This type of clad layer underwent intensive laboratory examinations which contained oxidation experiments at different temperatures and corrosion in exhaust gases, long time exposition in laboratory engine and in the end 3000 hours successfully service on the ship. After such experience laser cladding cobalt base layers may be recommended as a useful solutionfor both prolongs of the service life and a method of the regeneration of the slightly used valve heads is suitable for practical applications.