High power diode laser application for metals surface treatment based on wear resistance investigation

Since many year there are carried out investigations concerning the appliance of high power diode laser (HPDL) for surface treatment of engineering materials, including light alloys (AlSi9Cu2 aluminium cast alloy), copper, as well as diverse steel types. This paper presents the results of laser remelting influence on structure and properties of the surface of the X40CrMoV5-1 and 32CrMoV12-28 hot work tool steels, carried out using HPDL, as an possible extension of this useful technique, applied successfully for aluminium cast alloys surface treatment. Structure changes were determined in the work, as well as investigations were performed concerning the wear resistance and hardness of the different remelting areas. The reason of this work was to achieve a good layer hardness and wear resistance for protection of this tool materials from losing their work stability and to make the material surface more resistant for work extreme conditions. The goal of this work was to determine technical and technological conditions for remelting the surface layer with HPDL.