Hot cracking in pulsed laser processing of a nickel based superalloy built up by electrospark deposition

Abstract

A cast precipitation hardened nickel based superalloy was built up by electrospark deposition and then subjected to pulsed laser welding. The resistance of electrospark deposition layer to liquation and solidification cracking in pulsed laser welding was significantly higher than that of the cast alloy. It is shown that the extreme cooling rates involved in the solidification of electrospark deposition droplets result in the prevention of formation of grain boundaries terminal solidification constituents, which are the sources of liquation cracking in the cast alloy.