Effect of laser surface hardening on a low carbon steel substrate wear and hardness

TL;DR

This study investigates how laser surface hardening affects wear resistance and hardness of low carbon steel, comparing bare and carbon-coated conditions, and finds improved wear properties with carbon coating.

Contribution

It introduces a comparative analysis of laser surface hardening on low carbon steel with and without carbon coating, highlighting effects on microstructure and wear resistance.

Findings

Carbon coating reduces coefficient of friction.

Laser hardening produces martensite and cementite microstructures.

Carbon-coated surfaces show less damage during wear tests.

Abstract

Laser surface hardening (LSH) is an effective process to produce hard and wear resistant steel surfaces. This work produced hardened surfaces using a fiber laser in a bare (B. uncoated) and carbon-coated (C) conditions. The obtained hardness and microstructure were compatible to martensite (B) and cementite (C) major constituents. A low coefficient of friction was obtained using C-condition. The treated surface also presented little damage during a reciprocating wear against a hard metal sphere.