Tribological properties of tool steel after laser alloying

The paper shows the possibility of using an ytterbium nanosecond pulsed fiber laser for surface alloying of 3Kh2V8F tool steel. Alloying was carried out from a boroncarbide paste. The analysis of the microstructure of cross sections and the relief of the processed surface are presented. The phase and elemental compositions of the surface layers obtained as a result of laser alloying, as well as the distribution of microhardness in these layers, have been studied. The fundamental possibility of alloying with boron carbide using an ytterbium nanosecond pulsed fiber laser was established, and the structural-phase state of the layers was determined as a function of the laser parameters. The authors express their gratitude to the Center for Collective Use «Scientific Instruments» of Banzarov Buryat State University and personally to the director of the Center for Collective Use «Scientific Instruments» S. S. Badmaev for their cooperation and assistance in carrying out this study. The authors are grateful to N. S. Ulakhanov, research associates of the Laboratory of Physical Materials Science of the Institute of Physical Materials Science of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, for assistance with sample processing and D. E. Dasheev for assistance in XRF. Experimental studies were carried out on the equipment of Central Collective Use Center «Scientific Instruments» of Banzarov Buryat State University, the scientific laboratory «Physics of Composite Materials» and the scientific laboratory «Physical Materials Science» of the Institute of Physical Materials Science of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.