Cladding is a welding process for surface modification of materials, with the following characteristics and applications:

Characteristics

High metallurgical bonding strength: The cladding layer forms a metallurgical bond with the base metal, which has high bonding strength, can withstand large impacts and loads, and is not easy to fall off.

Adjustable composition and performance: The composition and performance of the cladding layer can be easily adjusted by selecting different cladding materials and welding processes to meet various working condition requirements, such as wear resistance, heat resistance, and corrosion resistance.

Controllable cladding layer thickness: The thickness of the cladding layer can be adjusted over a wide range, generally adjustable within 2-30mm, suitable for conditions with severe wear or where a specific performance layer thickness is required.

Cost-saving: When the base material of the workpiece is made of ordinary materials and the surface is clad with high-alloy materials, it can reduce manufacturing costs and save a large amount of precious metals. In workpiece repair, reasonably selecting cladding alloys for repairs can extend the service life of the workpiece and reduce maintenance costs.

Strong operability: For personnel skilled in welding technology, the difficulty of cladding operations is not high and is easy to implement.

Cladding Methods

Electrode arc cladding: Simple equipment, flexible operation, suitable for workpieces of various shapes and sizes, can be welded on-site. However, production efficiency is relatively low, labor intensity is high, and welding quality is greatly affected by human factors.

Submerged arc cladding: Stable welding process, high melting efficiency, good weld quality, and better working conditions. Suitable for cladding of medium-thick plates and large workpieces. However, equipment costs are relatively high, and there are certain limitations on the shape and size of the workpiece.

Single-wire submerged arc cladding: The equipment and process are relatively simple, suitable for cases with thinner cladding layers.

Multi-wire submerged arc cladding: Can improve melting speed and welding efficiency, suitable for large area cladding and thick-walled workpieces.

Strip electrode submerged arc cladding: Uses strip electrodes, has higher melting efficiency, produces aesthetically pleasing welds, and has a low dilution rate, suitable for workpieces with larger cladding areas and higher surface flatness requirements.

Gas shielded cladding: Includes carbon dioxide gas shielded cladding and argon gas shielded cladding, etc. During the welding process, gas protection can prevent the weld metal from being oxidized, resulting in better weld quality. Suitable for cladding materials that require high welding quality and are sensitive to oxidation. However, equipment costs are relatively high, and there are strict requirements for the working environment.

Carbon dioxide gas shielded cladding: Lower cost, higher welding efficiency, suitable for cladding of low carbon steel, low alloy steel, and other materials.

Argon gas shielded cladding: High welding quality, aesthetically pleasing welds, suitable for cladding of stainless steel, aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, and other materials.

Plasma arc cladding: High plasma arc temperature and concentrated energy can achieve high-quality cladding. The dilution rate of the cladding layer is low, the formation is good, and the quality is high, suitable for cladding of various metal materials, especially effective for high melting point and high hardness alloys. However, equipment costs are high, and operational technical requirements are stringent.

Cold wire plasma arc cladding: During the welding process, the filler wire is fed directly into the molten pool without heating, suitable for workpieces with thinner cladding layers and high requirements for heat input control.

Hot wire plasma arc cladding: The filler wire is heated before entering the molten pool, which can improve melting speed and welding efficiency, suitable for workpieces with thicker cladding layers.

Preformed plasma cladding: The cladding material is pre-made into a certain shape, then heated by the plasma arc to melt and bond with the base metal, suitable for workpieces with complex shapes and high precision requirements for the cladding layer's shape and size.

Powder plasma arc cladding: Uses powdered cladding materials, allowing precise control of the composition and performance of the cladding layer, suitable for cladding various high-performance alloy materials.

Application Fields

Manufacturing and Repair: Used for manufacturing and repairing various mechanical parts, such as camshafts, crankshafts, pistons, cylinders, brake discs in automotive manufacturing and repair; crankshafts, bushings, and bearings in marine power; machine tool guide rails, various shafts, gears in the machinery industry.

Mold Manufacturing: Roughening the surface of plastic molds to enhance aesthetics and service life, repairing the parting surface of helmet plastic molds, and the surface of aluminum alloy die-casting mold runners.

Aerospace: Used for the repair or refurbishment of aircraft engine components, turbines, turbine shafts, surface reinforcement repairs of rocket nozzles, and reinforcement or repair of artificial satellite shells.

Mining Metallurgy: Cladding wear-resistant alloys on wear parts of mining machinery, such as excavator bucket edges and crusher hammers, to improve their wear resistance and service life.