EHLA: A Future Proof Coating Technology

Constantly growing demands in the field of wear and corrosion protection coatings and, at the same time, increasing needs in terms of resource efficiency, ask for processes to achieve material and energy-efficient production and material processing: This is where the Extreme High-Speed Laser Material Deposition (EHLA) process comes into effect. EHLA is a further development of the conventional Laser Material Deposition (LMD) process. It is characterized by high process speeds of up to 500 m/min, a surface rate of up to 2.5 m./h and a powder deposition efficiency of up to 95%.

Compared to LMD, EHLA absorbs most of the thermal energy of the laser through the powdery filler material and not through the substrate. Consequently, the particles hit the surface in a melted state in a comparatively small melt pool. Different from classical coating processes, such as thermal spraying or chemical electroplating processes (nickel plating, chrome VI), using EHLA leads to metallurgical bonded homogeneous layers with layer thicknesses of 10 to 350 μm.