Investigation of the Corrosion Resistance Mechanism of Stellite 6 Coating on AISI 1045 Steel Fabricated by Laser Cladding Technology

International Journal of Mechanical Engineering

© 2026 by SSRG - IJME Journal

Volume 13 Issue 1

Year of Publication : 2026

Authors : Phan Truong Duy, Thang Le Toan, Nguyen Van Cuong, Huynh Chi Linh

10.14445/23488360/IJME-V13I1P104

How to Cite?

Phan Truong Duy, Thang Le Toan, Nguyen Van Cuong, Huynh Chi Linh, "Investigation of the Corrosion Resistance Mechanism of Stellite 6 Coating on AISI 1045 Steel Fabricated by Laser Cladding Technology," SSRG International Journal of Mechanical Engineering, vol. 13,  no. 1, pp. 47-54, 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488360/IJME-V13I1P104

Abstract:

The study investigates the corrosion resistance mechanism of a Stellite 6 coating deposited on AISI 1045 steel by using laser cladding technology. The objective was to clarify the microstructural characteristics, electrochemical behavior, and protective mechanism of the coating. The Stellite 6 alloy, composed mainly of cobalt, chromium, tungsten, and carbon, was deposited using a 2 kW Yb fiber laser under optimized parameters to form a dense, defect-free coating metallurgically bonded to the substrate. Microstructural and Compositional analyses by optical microscopy and SEM–EDS revealed a fine columnar dendritic structure with minimal dilution and a Cr and Co-rich surface layer containing carbide phases such as Cr7C3 and Co6W6C—electrochemical measurements in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution showed a corrosion potential of −0.188 V (Ag/AgCl), a polarization resistance of approximately 5×10⁵ Ω·cm², and a corrosion current density of 0.067 μA·cm-2, corresponding to a very low corrosion rate of 6x10-4 mm·year-1. The results demonstrated that the stable Cr2O3/CoO passive film and the fine carbide network played a crucial role in effectively restricting charge transfer and localized corrosion. Overall, laser cladding with Stellite 6 significantly improved the surface integrity and corrosion resistance of AISI 1045 steel, demonstrating its suitability for applications in chloride-containing and marine environments.

Keywords:

Stellite 6, Laser cladding, Corrosion resistance, Passive film, Electrochemical behavior.

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