Development Of Pliable Metal-loaded Films For Laser-coating Of Non-planar Surfaces

The fabrication of high-performance coatings with enhanced wear or corrosion resistance is of highest importance to numerous strategic industries, from aerospace to automotive sectors. Laser technology has been explored to fabricate protective coatings, especially laser cladding, either using powder feeding or preplaced powder systems. For non-planar surfaces, powder feeding laser systems coupled with robotic arms are especially interesting, however, the interaction of the powder jet with the laser and the collision between particles can affect the material layer morphology and density. Moreover, due to laser interaction, the reuse of powders is limited due to changes in powder size and morphology. In this work, an alternative approach is explored, namely metal-polymer films integrating Ni alloys having the ability to comply with non-planar surfaces. After fabricating and characterizing the obtained films, the laser-processed coatings deposited on stainless steel substrates are assessed regarding densification and microstructure, targeting both industrial coating and repair processes.