Frequently Asked Questions
Laser Cladding
What is Laser Cladding?
Laser Cladding is a metal surface enhancement process per-
formed by applying a powdered metal material onto the base
surface with a laser. It ensures a bond with minimal dilution,
superficial melting, and a small heat affected zone.
What are some common synonyms for Laser
Cladding?
Direct Laser Deposition (DLD), Direct Metal Deposition
(DMD), Laser Hardfacing, and Laser Hardbanding.
What is a Laser?
A LASER (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Ra-
diation) is an optical source that emits photons in a coherent
beam. Laser light is typically near-monochromatic, i.e., con-
sisting of a single wavelength or hue, and emitted in a nar-
row beam. This is in contrast to common light sources, such
as the incandescent light bulb, which emits incoherent pho-
tons in almost all directions, usually over a wide spectrum of
wavelengths.
How are cladding materials chosen?
Cladding materials are determined based on a thorough
analysis of the application and environment in which it will
serve. We consider corrosion, wear, and other mechanical
properties depending on the part.
What is Substrate?
A term used in materials science to describe the base mate-
rial on which processing is conducted to produce a new film
or layers of material such as deposited coatings.
Can parts be restored using laser cladding
technology?
Yes, it is common for Oerlikon Metco to restore used or
mis-machined parts by building the parts up to a desired
physical dimension using custom metal blends based on
customer needs. As such, we are able to bring a worn part
back to its original or better condition.
Can you control the thickness of metal applied to
the part?
Yes, through precise control of the cladding parameters, we
can apply your desired as-cladded thickness with a toler-
ance of ±0.125 mm ( ±0.005 in).
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Are Laser Cladding coatings machinable?
Yes, parts can also be finished with a lathe, mill or ground to
precise finishes.
What type of bond does laser cladding have with
the base material?
Laser cladding provides a metallurgical bond with the base
material.
What is Dilution?
This is defined as the amount of intermixing of the clad and
substrate materials. Low dilution means there is very little of
the base material mixed with the coating, leaving a surface
layer of cladding that is very close to the pure clad material.
This results in material properties that are not compromised
and the full affects of the clad can be achieved in a single
layer.
How does Laser Cladding dilution compare to
conventional welding?
Dilution into the base material is typically less than 2% using
laser cladding, which is minimal compared to conventional
welding methods. This is done with minimal heat input,
which is controlled by the short period of time the laser is fo-
cused on any one point on the part.
What is a typical Heat Affected Zone for Laser
Cladding?
Typically, 0.5 to 0.75 mm (0.020 to 0.030 in).
Can the thermal input be controlled during the laser
cladding process?
A major benefit of laser cladding over conventional arc weld-
ing is that the thermal input can be precisely controlled, thus
yielding minimal dilution and a small heat affected zone. This
lower amount of heat input prevents distortion and the base
material properties are not detrimentally affected.
Does Oerlikon Metco's Houston facility have a
Quality Management System (QMS)?
Yes, the Houston facility has a set of documented processs-
es within the organization to satisfy the quality expectations
of customers, company quality objectives, and continual im-
provement. The facility's quality management system is certi-
fied to ISO 9001:2008.
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Pros and Cons of Conventional Surfacing / Hardfacing Processes

Process Pros Cons Typical Materials

GMAW a or MIG b Fast, relatively high levels of deposits, Process produces spatter and Mild steel, nickel, stainless steel, flux
user friendly smoke, more prone to porosity cored and hardface wires
GTAW c or TIG d Superior quality welds, low distortion, Requires extremely clean weld Primarily aluminum and some
free of spatter and smoke, precise surface, relatively slow process stainless steel
control of welding variables (heat)
Stick Welding Equipment is simple, inexpensive and Produces slag which must be Wide range of steel electrodes,
portable, electrode provides its own chipped off after welding nickel, stainless stee and hardfacing
flux, all weld position capable materials
Submerged Arc High quality, very high deposition rate Limited positions, slag must be Carbon steel, flux cored wires
(wide bead, if needed) removed after welding
PTA e Can be considered instead of laser Lower tolerance capability and
cladding if the size, geometry or reduced material selection compared
thickness of the hardface required to laser cladding; potential for
falls outside the laser cladding distortion due to higher heat input to
parameters the part compared to laser cladding
Electric Arc Wire Low heat input compared to other Mechanical (non-metallurgical) bond Nickel composite, aluminum and
Spray thermal spray processes, low – typically 20 to 55 MPa (3000 to other metallic solid or cored wires
potential for part distortion 8000 psi), suitable spray booth with
adequate ventilation required, proper
surface preparation is critical
Thermal Spray f Low heat input to base part, low Mechanical (non-metallurgical) bond APS: Wide range of metallic and
potential for part distortion, wide – typically 18 to 83 MPa (2500 to ceramic powders; HVOF: metallic
range of coating materials 12 000 psi), suitable spray booth powders including carbides
with adequate ventillation required,
proper surface preparation is critical
a Gas Metal Arc Welding d Tungsten Inert Gas
b Metal Inert Gas e Plasma Transferred Arc
c Gas Tungsten Inert Gas f Atmospheric Plasma Spray (APS) or High Velocity Oxygen Fuel Spray (HVOF)

Oerlikon Metco is a global leader in engineered surface solutions that improve the
efficiency, reduce maintenance and ownership costs, and / or increase the
service life of our customers' components and systems through the use of
thermal spray, laser cladding and other advanced surface technologies.
Information is subject to change without prior notice.

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© 2016 Oerlikon Metco info.metco@oerlikon.com2