Preparing WC-Ni coatings with laser cladding technology: A review

Tungsten carbide (WC) reinforced nickel (Ni) based coatings are commonly used in industrial fields due to their exceptional properties, including high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and high hardness. Laser cladding (LC) technology provides several advantages for the preparation of WC-Ni alloy coatings, resulting in many research studies being carried out in recent years. Advances in the preparation of WC-Ni alloy coatings by LC are reviewed in this paper. Firstly, the characteristics and methods of preparing WC-Ni alloy coatings are summarized, and the influence of LC parameters, as well as WC content and size, on the cladding layer quality was analyzed. Secondly, various methods for improving the properties of cladding layers and post-treatment techniques are introduced, with their effects on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and surface finish of the coatings being analyzed. Finally, the challenges and future trends in the research of WC-Ni alloy coatings are presented.