Laser-processed NiCr-WC composite with exceptional cavitation erosion resistance

This study successfully fabricated a laser-remelted NiCr-WC composite with exceptional cavitation erosion resistance. The microstructure of the laser-remelted composite featured a fine lamellar metal-carbide eutectic, which played a crucial role in enhancing its resistance to cavitation erosion. The composite exhibited an impressive reduction in erosion rate, with a mean depth of erosion of only 0.50 ± 0.10 μm after 10 h of exposure, far surpassing that of conventional cavitation-erosion-resistant materials. The fine lamellar structure significantly contributed to its superior ability to dissipate impact energy and resist cavitation-induced damage. Future work can focus on optimising laser remelting parameters and incorporating additional alloying elements to further improve the material properties.