The increasing manufacturing technologies are a crucial aspect of industrialization. This is because the production of components and spare parts for industries such as aerospace, agriculture, nuclear, energy, and automobile are achieved through them. These technologies may be classified into conventional subtractive or shaping manufacturing, and the more recent ones like additive manufacturing (AM). AM is the creation of parts by adding endless layers of the material segment through cutting-edge fabricating innovation with a 3D model design, which is sectioned into numerous layers, this enables the creation of complex components without momentary advances. This technology is at present a preferred option in contrast to existing subtractive manufacturing processes. This is attributed to its numerous potential benefits, for example, its capacity to produce complex components utilizing materials that are difficult to machine. Laser additive manufacturing is the process of manufacturing using laser (heat) technology to manufacture components from scratch (i.e., LENS, SLM, etc.), and, or strengthening and modification of surfaces that are subject to abrasion (i.e., laser transformation hardening, laser cladding, etc.).
Laser cladding, as surface strengthening, modification, and repairing technology, has benefits like low heat affected zone (HAZ), minor stress deformation, very low and minimal dilution ratio, and improved metallurgical adhesion of the clad to the substrate. The minimal dilution ratio of laser cladding gives an advantage over other methods such as gas metal arc welding (GMAW), submerged arc welding (SAW), etc. It has great application possibilities in enhancing the corrosion resistance and wear resistance of materials (Aramide et al., 2020). This makes it to be increasingly applied in surface and manufacturing engineering. A numerous variation of materials can be deposited on a substrate through laser cladding by powder injection to form a layer with thicknesses varying between 0.05 to 2 mm and widths as thin as 0.4 mm (Toyserkani et al., 2004).
Iron-based alloy (mild steel and carbon steel) are commonly used for the manufacturing of ground engaging components of agricultural and mining tools, but with poor corrosion and wear resistance when put to its working condition, hence the incessant replacement of such tools. There is a need to improve the wear and corrosion resistance of steel used for such implements, and it is the key to expanding their durability in applications. The combination of both Chromium Carbide (CrC) and Vanadium Carbide reinforced iron-based hard facings have gotten progressively significant in enhancing the corrosion and wear resistance of tools subject to adverse abrasive and impact conditions. The precipitate of primary VCs, eutectic VCs, and Chromium-rich eutectic carbides stand as resistance against the infiltrating grating medium (Bouaifi et al., 1997). VCs and CrCs as reinforcements improve grain refinement of iron-based alloy, resulting in increasing the toughness, which has an improvement in wear resistance (Lampman and Peters, 1981). The aim of this work is to investigate the impact the precipitation of Vanadium-Chromium Carbide has on the microstructure and hardness of reinforced clad on mild steel.