LASER-SURFACE MELTING OF MILD-STEEL WITH SUBMICRONIC TITANIUM CARBIDEPOWDERS

Surface alloys are of great interest for improving the mechanical and/ or chemical properties of the near-surface region of metallic material s. A new method is described to produce surface alloys under laser irr adiation using submicronic powders suspended in a polymeric mixture. B y this process, Fe-TiC composite surface alloys were achieved on mild steel; they exhibited increased hardness, the value of which may be va ried by controlling the TiC fraction incorporated.