Effects of Substrate Preheating Temperatures on the Microstructure, Properties, and Residual Stress of 12CrNi2 Prepared by Laser Cladding Deposition Technique

The 12CrNi2 alloy steel powder studied in the present paper is mainly used to manufacture camshafts for nuclear power emergency diesel engines. Laser cladding deposition is of great significance for the manufacture of nuclear power emergency diesel camshafts, which has the advantages of reducing material cost and shortening the manufacturing cycle. However, due to the extremely uneven heating of the components during the deposition process, a complex residual stress field occurs, resulting in crack defects and residual deformation of the components. In the present paper, 12CrNi2 bulk specimens were prepared on the Q460E high-strength structural steel substrate at different preheating temperatures by laser cladding deposition technique, and a finite element residual stress analysis model was established to investigate the effects of different preheating temperatures on the microstructure, properties, and residual stress of the specimens. The results of the experiments and finite element simulations show that with the increase of preheating temperature, the content of martensite/bainite in the deposited layer decreases, and the ferrite content increases. The proper preheating temperature (150 °C) has good mechanical properties. The residual stress on the surface of each specimen decreases with the increase of the preheating temperature. The longitudinal stress is greater at the rear-end deposition part, and the lateral residual stress is greater on both sides along the scanning direction.