Nowadays there are several methods for restoration and producing of coatings, one of which is laser cladding. As a rule, for getting highly rigid and wear-resistant coatings organizations use commercial powders with tungsten carbides in a nickel matrix (particle size about 100 microns).

An alternative innovative solution has been suggested by MEPhI Laser Centre employees Cand. Sc. V.N. Petrovskiy and a post-graduate student M.A. Murzakov. The idea is in adding of nanoparticles of high-melting compounds of tungsten carbides and tantalum (produced by ISSC of RAS) to usual powders with nickel and cobalt matrix. These nanopowders’ addings have following advantages compared to commercial powders with tungsten carbides:

1. Finely-divided microstructure appears which impedes fractures’ spread in coatings;

2. Unique physical mechanical properties appear, such as increased wear resistance, corrosive resistance, increased micro-hardness of coatings;

3. Small carbide concentration in the coating (5-10%), as opposed to commercial powders (40-60%);

4. Flexibleness of coating’s chemical composition.

Tests have shown that low concentration (5-10%) of nanopowder leads to the increase of the wear resistance of the coating in 4-6 times compared to ordinary steel.

The results are presented both in Russian and international scientific journals included in the SCOPUS database.

Below: robotic centre of the MEPhI Laser Centre equipped with the 5 kw laser from the IRE-Polus