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Abstract
The application of lightweight materials such as aluminium alloys, especially in systems stressed due to tribological contacts, calls for an additional modification of functional surfaces according to the loading conditions. Not least because of a modern generation of beam deflection techniques available, electron beam (EB) liquid phase surface treatment is a possible and innovative solution for these requirements. The modification of microstructure and properties of the surface layers (0·5–6·2 mm in thickness) is caused by rapid solidification and cooling by self-quenching, whereas layer properties (hardness, friction and wear behaviour) can be improved significantly, especially in combination with the use of additional elements (Co, Cu, Ni) and/or hard particles (WC) during local EB processing (surface alloying/dispersion hardening). Experimental results show 2–7 times higher hardness and scratch energy values as well as up to 20 times lower wear rates in combination with decreased friction coefficients. The present paper deals with current investigation results of EB surface remelting, alloying and dispersion hardening of commercial cast, wrought and spray formed Al alloys using high frequency beam deflection techniques. The results will be discussed according to the interactions between the EB and the material and its effects on the layer microstructure and the layer properties.
The research work was supported by Arbeitsgemeinschaft industrieller Forschungsvereinigungen ‘Otto von Guericke’ e.V. (project no. IGF-FV16385BG). The authors wish to thank their project partners PEAK Werkstoff GmbH (Velbert, Germany), pro-beam systems GmbH (Neukirchen, Germany), IWB Werkstofftechnologie GmbH (Chemnitz, Germany), AUDI AG (Ingolstadt, Germany) and HONSEL AG (Meschede, Germany) for the helpful support and intensive cooperation.