Femtosecond laser joining of Stellite and stainless steel

Abstract

This research explores the practicality of fusing Stellite 6, a cobalt-chromium alloy known for its high performance, with stainless steel, utilizing various laser welding approaches. The primary challenge addressed is the joining of dissimilar materials, which presents obstacles such as divergent melting points and disparate coefficients of thermal expansion. The aim is to achieve a metallurgical bond between Stellite and stainless steel that retains desirable properties. The study employs both continuous wave and femtosecond laser welding techniques, subjecting the resultant joints to rigorous analysis to assess their impact on the properties of the bond. Initial tensile testing delineated the intrinsic mechanical characteristics of the materials, revealing that while Stellite exhibits a lower ultimate tensile strength, it compensates with greater elongation compared to stainless steel. The use of continuous wave laser welding proved to be capable of creating the bond; however, it also precipitated a considerable decline in the tensile strength of the Stellite component as a result of the thermal processing involved. In contrast, femtosecond laser welding emerged as a more effective method, enhancing the joint’s overall strength and ductility. This improvement is attributed to the femtosecond laser’s precise control over thermal exposure, which confines the heat to the intended weld zone, thereby safeguarding the adjacent material from damage. Further insights were gleaned from Scanning Electron Microscopy, which showed a preferable intergranular fracture in samples welded with the femtosecond laser—a feature typically associated with ductile failure modes. The femtosecond laser welding approach culminated in a joint efficiency of 53.7%, mirroring the innate yield strength of the Stellite wire. This outcome suggests that such welded joints possess the requisite robustness for practical deployment, thus underscoring the potential of femtosecond laser welding in applications requiring the joining of Stellite to stainless steel.