LASER PROCESSING AND MICROSTRUCTURE OF AL-CU-FE QUASI-CRYSTALLINE COATINGS ON AL-BASE MATERIALS

There is a large interest in using high power lasers for surface alloy ing or cladding on aluminium alloys, in order to enhance hardness and to improve wear resistance. A partly quasicrystalline surface layer (Q C) (Al-Cu-Fe coating) has been obtained by laser cladding on Al-base m aterials. In addition to crystalline phases (Al5Fe2 and Al13Fe4, with dissolved copper), a quasicrystalline Al-Cu-Fe phase is detected. Howe ver, crystallization of this quasicrystalline phase occurs during isot hermal heat treatment at 525-degrees-C. A mechanism is proposed for th e solidification process resulting from laser cladding.