Irkutsk National Research Technical University (Irkutsk, Russia)
R. Yu. Gusev, Postgraduate Student, Dept. of Materials Science, Welding, and Additive Technologies, deltadota_99@mail.ru
G. M. Mikhaylovsky, Postgraduate Student, Dept. of Materials Science, Welding, and Additive Technologies, dog7820038@gmail.com
N. A. Astafieva, Cand. Eng., Associate Prof., Dept. of Materials Science, Welding, and Additive Technologies, anstella@mail.ru
Kim Chol Son, Postgraduate Student, Dept. of Materials Science, Welding, and Additive Technologies, ivanov1992113@mail.ru
A. E. Balanovsky, Cand. Eng., Associate Prof., Dept. of Materials Science, Welding, and Additive Technologies, balanovskiy@ex.istu.edu

In this study, we used surface laser remelting of a Ni-Co-Cr-W-Si powder mixture reinforced with 5–20 wt% B4C particles to produce layers on the surface of grade 20 steel. This study aimed to study the influence of B4C content and laser beam power on the quality, structure, and properties of the coatings. Macroscopic analysis revealed that the steel surface layers were of high quality and free of defects. Microstructural characterization was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The microstructure of the steel surface layer consisted of an austenitic matrix with chromium-containing precipitates (carbides and borides). Variations in structural morphology were described in different areas of the coatings and at different laser powers. The macroscopic hardness of deposited layers containing boron carbide varied between 55 and 65 HRC, while the layer produced with the base powder without B4C had a hardness of 26 to 30 HRC. Increasing the boron carbide content in the deposited metal was shown to increase the average hardness of the deposited layer.

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