Numerical Simulation and Wear Resistance Property of Ni-Based Alloy Coating on the Surface of Ti-6Al-4V Substrate

Laser cladding is a new technology to improve the wear resistance or corrosion resistance properties of metal parts. A finite element model of laser cladding coating was established by numerical simulation technology. The temperature field distribution was studied and analyzed during the laser cladding process at three different scanning speeds and three different laser powers. A Ni-based coating was also fabricated on the substrate by a CO2 laser. The optimum parameters of the laser cladding were selected and compared with the melt pool depth and width of the Ni-based coating. Then, the cooling rate, temperature gradient, temperature and stress fields were calculated and analyzed. The growth mechanism of the crystal structure was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The wear resistance of the Ni-based coating was measured by a friction and wear testing machine. The results showed that the optimal parameters were laser power 1600 W and scanning speed 3 mm/s. The temperature trends at different locations were similar. The calculated maximum residual stress was 0.157 GPa. The stress concentration appeared near the surface and both sides of the cladding layer. From the coating’s microstructure, it could be seen that it contained a large number of columnar dendrites, and the crystal size gradually decreased with the increase of cooling rate. The wear rates of the Ti-6Al-4V (TC4) substrate and the Ni-based coating were 6.98 mm3/(N·m) and 3.45 mm3/(N·m), respectively. The Ni-based layer had a low wear rate and good wear resistance, which is helpful to obtain good friction and wear resistance of TC4 substrates.