A Review on Effect of Cooling Rate on Metallurgical, Mechanical, Geometrical Characteristics and Defects of Laser Cladding Process

Over the past decade, laser cladding has made significant strides, proving highly effective in cladding applications due to its efficiency. The process involves manipulating a base plate and powder, and adjustments to these components yield noticeable variations in outcomes. Parameters such as scan speed, laser power, and feeding rate demonstrate unpredictable behaviors, influencing metallurgical results. For instance, modifying the feeding rate can lead to diverse metallurgical granulation sizes. Introducing a mediating parameter, cooling rate (CR), addresses this variability, impacting metallurgical, mechanical, geometrical properties, and defects. CR is customized for each laser cladding process to estimate properties accurately. Despite this, comprehensive summaries on CR’s influence on laser cladding properties are scarce. This study aims to fill this gap by synthesizing numerous articles in the field, offering a consolidated analysis. Moreover, comparisons with related laser processes like welding and additive manufacturing enhance comprehension. Given limited resources on laser cladding’s cooling rate, relevant articles from similar processes are also reviewed. By consolidating existing knowledge, this study aims to comprehensively elucidate CR’s impact on laser cladding properties, thus contributing to process optimization and advancement. Understanding CR’s role is pivotal in achieving desired material characteristics and properties in laser cladding.