Thermal fatigue resistance of hot work die steel repaired by partial laser surface remelting and alloying process

• Precracks were produced.
• Precracks were repaired by partial laser surface remelting and alloying.
• Microhardness and microstructure of laser treated zones were investigated.
• Thermal fatigue resistance of laser repaired samples was improved.

In this study, AISI H13 steel was processed using laser surface remelting and alloying with Co-based and iron-based powders for thermal fatigue resistance enhancement. The precracks were produced on the samples before laser treatment. The microstructures of laser treated zones were examined by scanning electron microscope. X-ray diffraction was used to describe the microstructure and identify the phases in molten/alloying zones. Microhardness was measured and the thermal fatigue resistance was investigated with self-controlled thermal fatigue test method. The results indicate that laser surface remelting and alloying can repair a large proportion of thermal cracks. Meanwhile, the strengthening network obtains ultrafine microstructure and super thermal fatigue resistance, which restrains the propagation of thermal cracks. Compared with samples treated with laser surface remelting and laser surface alloying with iron-base powder, samples treated with Co-based powder produce lower cracking susceptibility and higher thermal fatigue resistance.