In an interview, Thomas Schopphoven, Graduate Engineer, Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, Aachen, Germany with Chemical Today Magazine talks about the cutting-edge research on ultra-high-speed laser material deposition technology. The new process comes out on top not only in cost, quality and sustainability but also in retaining jobs in Europe.
Ultra-high-speed laser material deposition research.
Special coatings protect components against corrosion and wear. However, standard processes such as hard chrome plating, thermal spraying, laser material deposition or other deposition welding techniques have drawbacks. We have now developed the extreme high-speed laser material deposition process, known by its German acronym EHLA, to eliminate these drawbacks in an economical way. High-quality metal layers measured in tenths of a millimetre can be applied to large surfaces flexibly, efficiently and quickly.
Advantages and disadvantages of hard chrome plating, thermal spraying and laser material deposition methods.
The most common process for corrosion and wear protection is hard chrome plating: Chromium is taken from a chromic acid solution and deposited on a workpiece in an electrochemical bath at process temperatures of 50 to 65 degrees Celsius. However, this process is not optimal: Hard chrome layers are not metallurgically bonded to the base material and they delaminate easily. In addition, the layers show microcracks in the microstructure that reduce their resistance to corrosion and wear. Another disadvantage is that electrochemical processes consume a lot of energy and become less economical as electricity costs rise. Yet the biggest drawback concerns environmental protection. Due to its environmental impact, chromium (VI) has been included in the EU directive EC 1907/2006. From September 2017, an authorization or a special permit will be required to use it.
Read More: Sharpest anti-corrosion, anti-wear and repair technology
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