A high‐alloyed high‐speed steel (HSS) coating was fabricated using laser cladding technology. This study investigates the effects of heat treatment on the microstructural evolution and wear resistance of the HSS melt coating through microstructural observation, phase analysis, and mechanical property testing. The results indicate that the HSS melt coating primarily consists of martensite, retained austenite (RA), and carbides, including Fe 7 C 3 , Cr 23 C 6 , and VC. After postcladding heat treatment (PCHT), the RA within the coating transforms into martensite, and the carbides are redistributed uniformly. The specimens subjected to PCHT exhibit the precipitation of diffuse carbide particles, comprising numerous submicron and some nano carbides, which enhance the hardness and wear resistance of the coatings by 23.5% and 63.2%, respectively. The wear mechanisms identified for the HSS coatings include oxidative wear, adhesive wear, and abrasive wear, with the heat treatment significantly reducing abrasive wear.
Zheng et al. (Sat,) studied this question.