Abstract
This study produced hypereutectic Al-Si clad layer on 1050 Al alloy by a novel laser cladding method. Pure Si powder was mixed with organic binder to make fluid paste which could be screen-printed on the 1050 Al alloy plate. Pulsed Nd:YAG laser was irradiated on the Si paste layer to melt and alloy with Al substrate. Different laser power of 99 W, 179 W and 261 W, was used to see the difference of the microstructure, composition and hardness of the clad layers. When laser power of 179 W was used, the clad layer had overall Si content of 38wt% and composed of fine primary Si particles and fine eutectic phase. At laser power of 261 W, the clad layer had overall Si content of 24wt% and composed of mainly fine eutectic phase. Vickers hardness of HV176.7 and HV150.3 on the clad layer was obtained at laser power of 179 W and 261 W, respectively.