Structural and functional connections in the technological system of “laser cladding of high-entropy coatings”

Systems theory can be used not only to assess the existing state of engineering and technological systems, but also to forecast their development. This approach implies the creation of a generalized model of the object under study taking the existing connections between its individual components into account, along with an analysis of the energetic, material, and informational resources inherent in this object. This allows selection of the most optimal solution for improving the technological system under analysis from a variety of possible options. Creation of high-entropy compounds of various compositions is an intensively developing direction of modern materials science. Due to their specific chemical composition, such materials may exhibit a unique combination of properties, thereby outperforming other types of compounds. In this work, we study structural and functional interactions in a technological system aimed at obtaining coatings by laser cladding of high-entropy materials, which are represented by the starting powders mixed in a certain proportion. The input and output parameters of the laser cladding process are established. This process is represented in the form of sequential phases, resulting in the formation of a coating on the surface of the product. The coating is characterized by both technological and specific properties, depending on the chemical composition of the starting powder components. A structural and functional scheme describing the process of coating formation from a high-entropy material during laser cladding is proposed. Connections between the input and output process parameters are demonstrated. These connections reflect the formation of specific coating properties in the process of laser cladding as a result of interaction of the powder material with the laser beam. It is noted that structural and functional schemes should be used when simulating technological processes based on mathematical models, taking the occurring transformations of substances into account.