Enhancing the Wear Resistance of AlSi9Mg Alloys Using Rotatable Inner-Surface Laser Cladding Method

The primary aim of this research is to enhance the wear resistance in commonly used aluminum alloys in the automotive industry, with special emphasis on car engine cylinders. Our approach was based on the development and testing of a unique process called rotatable inner-surface laser cladding (RILC). This process was utilized to generate a stainless steel cladding layer that fortified the inner surface of aluminum cylinders. The results revealed the high-speed laser cladding layer to possess superior qualities such as a thinner cladding layer which is approximately 512 μm and a narrower heat-affected zone. Furthermore, it proved to offer enhanced wear resistance compared to the low-speed laser cladding layer. Microstructure analysis showed that the high cooling rate of high-speed laser cladding significantly refined the grain size in the cladding layer. Additionally, the thickness of the transition layer at the interface was reduced by approximately 50%. Post experimental findings showed the wear depth to be about 1/20 of the substrate, indicating a noteworthy improvement in wear resistance. Consequently, our study enshrines the high-speed laser cladding method as an efficient, economical, and effective process for heightening the wear resistance of aluminum alloys in automotive applications.