WC Nano powder cold planting via laser shock peening onto aluminium/magnesium alloy surfaces

We have developed a novel process for hardfacing aluminium/magnesium alloys: nano powder cold planting via laser shock peening (NPCP/LSP). The pre-coated nano powders are planted into the near surface layer by the GPa pressure induced by a laser shock peening process. This paper reports our recent work on WC NPCP/LSP onto aluminium/magnesium alloys, focusing on the combination of nano powders with the substrate, the interface bond between the nano particles and the matrix, and also the significant improvement on the surface hardness, wear resistance, and tribologocal properties.