As an important manufacturing field, the shipbuilding industry has strict requirements on the quality, performance and service life of ships. With the continuous development of science and technology, laser cladding technology has gradually been applied in the shipbuilding industry, bringing new opportunities and solutions for ship manufacturing and maintenance.

Introduction to laser cladding technology:
Laser cladding is an advanced surface modification technology. By adding cladding materials to the surface of the base material, a high-energy-density laser beam is used to melt the cladding materials and the base surface at the same time, and a cladding layer that is metallurgically bonded to the base is formed after rapid solidification. This technology has the advantages of high bonding strength, small heat-affected zone, and high precision, and can significantly improve the surface properties of the base material.

Application fields of laser cladding technology in shipbuilding

1. Repair and strengthening of ship propellers
Ship propellers work in seawater for a long time, and are subject to seawater corrosion, cavitation erosion, and mechanical wear, which are prone to surface damage and wear. By using laser cladding technology, corrosion-resistant and wear-resistant alloy materials, such as nickel-based and cobalt-based alloys, are clad on the surface of propeller blades to repair damage on the blade surface, improve the surface hardness, corrosion resistance and wear resistance of the propeller, and extend the service life of the propeller.

For example, for propeller blades with wear and corrosion, the blade surface is first pretreated to remove corrosion products and fatigue layers, and then the laser cladding process is used to clad the damaged parts with wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant alloy coatings. The repaired propeller can restore its original performance and even improve some performance aspects.

2. Repair and strengthening of ship engine components
Some key components of ship engines, such as cylinder liners, piston rings, crankshafts, etc., will degrade in performance due to wear, corrosion and fatigue during long-term operation. Through laser cladding technology, suitable alloy materials are clad on the worn surfaces of these components to repair the worn parts, improve the surface hardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance of the components, thereby extending the service life of the engine and improving the reliability and performance of the engine.

Taking the cylinder liner as an example, when the inner wall of the cylinder liner is worn or scratched, the laser cladding process is used to clad the wear-resistant alloy coating on the worn part, which can effectively restore the dimensional accuracy and surface performance of the cylinder liner, reduce oil consumption, and improve the engine’s power performance and fuel economy.

3. Repair and strengthening of ship shaft components
The ship’s transmission shaft, tail shaft and other shaft components are prone to wear, cracks and other problems due to long-term alternating loads and seawater corrosion. Laser cladding technology can clad high-strength, wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant alloy materials on the worn parts or cracks of shaft components, repair the damage of shaft components, and improve their load-bearing capacity and service life.

For example, for a worn transmission shaft, the laser cladding technology is used to clad the wear-resistant alloy coating on the worn part. After subsequent processing, the transmission shaft can be restored to its original size and performance and continue to work safely and reliably.

4. Repair and Strengthening of Ship Valves
Various valves on ships, such as stop valves, safety valves, regulating valves, etc., are easily corroded and worn due to long-term contact with seawater, oil and other media, resulting in reduced sealing performance and operational failure. Using laser cladding technology to clad corrosion-resistant and wear-resistant alloy materials on the sealing surface and valve stem of the valve can improve the sealing performance and service life of the valve and ensure the normal operation of the ship system.

For example, for stop valves with worn sealing surfaces, laser cladding of corrosion-resistant alloy materials can be used to repair and strengthen the sealing surface, which can restore the sealing performance of the valve and extend the service life of the valve.

5. Repair and Strengthening of Ship Deck and Bulkhead
During long-term use, the deck and bulkhead of the ship will be affected by factors such as cargo loading and unloading, seawater erosion and collision, resulting in wear, corrosion and local deformation. Laser cladding technology can be used to repair damaged parts of decks and bulkheads, and at the same time, wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant coatings can be clad on the surface to improve their surface performance and service life.

For example, for the wear and corrosion areas on the deck surface, the laser cladding process is used to clad the wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant alloy coating, which can not only repair the damage, but also enhance the deck’s wear and corrosion resistance and extend the service life of the deck.

The application of laser cladding technology in the shipbuilding industry has important significance and broad prospects. By repairing and strengthening the key components of the ship, the reliability, safety and service life of the ship can be improved, and the operating cost and maintenance cycle of the ship can be reduced. With the continuous development and improvement of laser cladding technology, it is believed that its application in the shipbuilding industry will become more and more extensive, providing stronger technical support for the development of the shipbuilding industry.