Characteristics and mechanisms of ductile-to-brittle transition of thin steel plates with coatings fabricated by laser directed energy deposition

Abstract

Laser directed energy deposition (LDED) is widely used in the remanufacturing and surface strengthening of high-value thin-walled components. However, the transformation mechanism of mechanical properties for substrates induced by laser deposition, especially for thin metal sheets, remains unclear. In this study, the affecting mechanism of Fe304 coatings fabricated by LDED on the ductility of Q235 thin plates was investigated. Samples of original substrate (OS), deposited plates with one to three layers of coating (D1–D3), the substrate zone of deposited plates with one to three layers of coating (D1-S–D3-S), and deposited coating were prepared to evaluate the effect of coating and laser heat on substrate ductility. The Fe304 coating deposited by LDED and the accompanying laser heat drastically reduced substrate ductility by about 87%. Specifically, laser heat reduced the ductility by 24%–51%. The Fe304 coating deposited by LDED led to the ductile-to-brittle transition of the substrate. Compared with ductile dimples in the OS, cleavage fracture was found in the substrate of deposited plates. Meanwhile, the mechanisms of ductile-to-brittle transition of the substrate were analyzed. Laser heat caused the precipitation of cementite and the generation of a decarburization layer in the substrate. Coating resulted in the pileup of dislocations in the substrate, then nonuniform deformation occurred in the substrate. The cracks of the coating fracture extended to the substrate, inducing local cracking of the substrate. This study provides fundamental guidance for the surface manufacturing of ductile thin-walled components through LDED.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

laser directed energy deposition / ductile-to-brittle transition / deposited coating / laser heat / thin steel plate

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 52275495 and 52305542), the Taishan Scholar Project of Shandong Province, China (Grant No. tsqn202306006), the Youth Innovation Technology Support Program of Shandong Provincial Universities, China (Grant No. 2022KJ041), and the Youth Fund from the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, China (Grant No. ZR2023QE320).

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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