Review on Microwave Cladding: A New Approach

In the present work, the development of composite clad of different metallic-based matrices (like Ni-La₂O₃, Ni-WC, WC-10Co-2Ni, Ni-20WC-10Mo, Ni-Al₂O₃, etc.) on the different types of metals (like AISI 1040, SS-316, SS-304, etc.) was investigated. The microwave energy was used due to its volumetric heating and helps to improve material properties. Due to partial dilution of the clad material into the base metal, there is a good metallurgical bonding between the clad material and base metal. The clad element uniformly distributed over the substrate and reduces the interfacial defects and cracks. This helps to improve the microstructure of the material. Various intermetallic phases were formed during volumetric heating and show the presence of different types of the element present in clad and hence improve the microhardness of the material. Due to reinforcement of clad element into the substrate helps to the sliding and wear performance of the material which is used in the component of manufacturing industries like automobile, hydropower plant, gas power plants, etc., where component geometry is complex. Because of the volumetric heating, the microstructure of the material becomes more uniform and help to improve the mechanical properties like hardness, ductility, flexural strength, etc. The material was characterized by different types of analysis by using SEM, XRD, and DTA. The microwave process was carried out at home-use microwave oven of frequency 2.45 Hz and having power range.