Developing an Empirical Relationship to Predict the Wear Characteristics of Ni-Based Hardfaced Deposits on Nuclear Grade 316LN Austenitic Stainless Steel

Table 4

Macrostructure investigation to determine the laser hardfacing’s operating range.

S. no.	Parameters	Working range	Macrographs	Observations	Causes
1	Laser power (P)	> 1900 Watts		Minor crack and high dilution	Excessive heat input
		< 1100 Watts		Powders escaping will cause pores	Inadequate heat input
2	Rate of powder feed (F)	F > 11 grams/min		Cracks	Specific energy input is insufficient
		F < 3 grams/min		High penetration and dilution depth	Higher specific input of energy
3	Travel speed (T)	T > 500 mm/min		Cracks as a result of the increased travel speed	Lower heat input
		T < 300 mm/min		Higher deposition thickness and minor cracks	Increased heat input
4	Defocusing distance (D)	D > 37 mm		Inadequate bonding	The energy density per unit is low
		D < 17 mm		Pores	The increased energy density per unit of measurement