Lasers used to clad, strengthen nonmagnetic steel equipment

• Published in: The Oil & gas journal Vol. 105; no. 34; p. 43
• Main Author: Rach, Nina M
• Format: Magazine Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nashville Endeavor Business Media 10.09.2007
• Subjects: Abrasion; Alloys; Aluminum; Cavitation; Control systems; Corrosion; Corrosion resistance; Corrosion resisting materials; Drilling; Drilling & boring machinery; Engineers; Heat; Lasers; Magnesium; Nickel; Oil and gas fields; Oil fields; Oilfield equipment & services; R&D; Research & development; Stainless steel; Titanium alloys
• ISSN: 0030-1388; 1944-9151

Laser cladding, a type of laser surface alloying, is a process that precisely applies a uniform surface coating to tools and equipment, and provides protection against corrosion and wear without inducing magnetization. Oil field tools are routinely subject to abrasion and corrosion, degrading their surface integrity both mechanically and chemically. Applying a surface coating improves wear and corrosion resistance, results in longer component life, and keeps equipment in service longer. Laser cladding is particularly useful for protecting stabilizers and other drillstring components made of nonmagnetic steel. Control systems are fundamental to laser cladding operations, often using multiaxis computer-numeric control systems. Laser-cladding research is underway at the University of Waterloo, Ontario. Researchers in China are working on aluminum oxide coatings on AZ91D magnesium alloy and 7075 aluminum alloy. Laser cladding is useful wherever components need to be protected from abrasion, cavitation, fretting, particle erosion, and corrosion.