Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
Shaped continuous-wave laser beams have been used to alloy molybdenum coatings into Fe-C substrates. The Mo overlay was first deposited by the plasma spray process in an inert gas environment. Slowly scanned laser radiation then melted a layer 2 to 5 times the thickness of the original Coating causing the two metallic species to mix. Melt proceeded from the coating/substrate interface, the Mo melt temperatures being significantly higher than that of the base material. Fusion zone microstructures for individual melt passes appeared to be homogeneous, and molybdenum composition was found to be relatively uniform. With overlapping melt passes, the microstructures became more complex with heat effects apparent in the overlap regions.