Microstructure, corrosion properties, and wear resistance of Cr2O3-reinforced 316L stainless steel composite coatings by laser cladding
Ceramics International, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.06.360
- Journal Name: Ceramics International
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Chemical Abstracts Core, Compendex, INSPEC, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Engineering Source (EBSCO)
- Keywords: Corrosion behavior, Laser cladding, Stainless steel microstructure, Wear resistance
- Yıldız Technical University Affiliated: No
Abstract
In this study, bare stainless steel and Cr2O3-reinforced stainless steel composite coatings were fabricated on steel substrates by laser cladding to improve surface performance for brake disc applications. The influence of Cr2O3 ceramic particle content on microstructural evolution, phase constitution, microhardness, tribological behavior at different sliding speeds, and corrosion resistance was systematically investigated. Microstructural analyses showed that Cr2O3 incorporation significantly refined the dendritic structure by promoting heterogeneous nucleation and reducing the effective G/R ratio (temperature gradient/solidification velocity) during rapid solidification. XRD results confirmed that the coatings were primarily an austenitic stainless-steel matrix, with Cr2O3 particles uniformly distributed without introducing detrimental secondary phases. The microhardness of the coatings increased progressively with increasing Cr2O3 content, attributed to grain refinement, load-bearing effects, and dispersion strengthening. Tribological tests at different sliding speeds demonstrated a clear transition in wear mechanisms from severe adhesive and abrasive wear in the unreinforced coating to a milder regime in the Cr2O3-reinforced coatings. Among all samples, the coating containing 20 wt% Cr2O3 exhibited the lowest wear rate and wear track width across all sliding speeds, owing to its enhanced hardness, homogeneous particle distribution, and improved load-carrying capacity. In addition, corrosion tests indicated that the addition of Cr2O3 effectively improved corrosion resistance by forming a more stable, protective surface layer. Overall, the results demonstrate that laser-cladded 316L–Cr2O3 (20 wt%) composite coatings offer a promising surface-engineering solution for improving the wear and corrosion resistance of brake discs.