The Paton Welding Journal, 2026, №05

2026 №05 (01)

DOI of Article 10.37434/tpwj2026.05.02

2026 №05 (03)

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The Paton Welding Journal, 2026, #5, 10-17 pages

Identification of process techniques for defect prevention during laser cladding onto thin-walled substrates

M.V. Sokolovskyi, V.V. Savytsky, O.V. Siora, Yu.V. Yurchenko, D.A. Harder, A.V. Bernatskyi

E.O. Paton Electric Welding Institute of the NASU. 11 Kazymyr Malevych Str., 03150, Kyiv, Ukraine. E-mail: m_sokolovskyi@paton.kiev.ua

Abstract
The subject of investigation is the patterns of interaction of laser radiation with the material during cladding of powder material layers onto a thin-walled substrate of heat-resistant corrosion-resistant steel. An unresolved problem is the manufacture of defect-free thin-walled shell components whose design includes functional elements that differ significantly in their characteristics from the components themselves and are intended to perform various sets of specific critical functions. Typically, these elements are produced by argon-arc cladding, microplasma cladding, and other processes; however, products manufactured using such technologies exhibit a high rejection rate due to the high probability of defects such as burn-through and distortion under thermal deformation. In the present work, the use of laser radiation for cladding of functional elements is proposed, and methods for minimising the probability of forming defects such as distortion and burn-through of the thin-walled substrate are studied. Experimental investigations were conducted, on the basis of which cladding techniques for functional elements onto thin-walled substrates were developed. The results of this work demonstrate the promising nature of applying laser radiation technology for cladding of functional elements onto thin-walled substrates. As a result of the study, methods were developed for minimising the effect of laser radiation on distortion defect formation by 60–80 % and for completely preventing burn-through defects. These methods are based on maximising the area and rate of thermal energy distribution, which made it possible to produce defect-free cladded layers. The results of this work are intended for use in developing laser cladding technologies for functional elements on thin-walled components of critical structures in the aerospace, aviation, chemical, instrument-making, and other industrial sectors.
Keywords: laser cladding, defect prevention, distortion, burn-through, process techniques

Received: 01.08.2025
Received in revised form: 20.10.2025
Accepted: 15.05.2026

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Suggested Citation

M.V. Sokolovskyi, V.V. Savytsky, O.V. Siora, Yu.V. Yurchenko, D.A. Harder, A.V. Bernatskyi (2026) Identification of process techniques for defect prevention during laser cladding onto thin-walled substrates. The Paton Welding J., 05, 10-17. https://doi.org/10.37434/tpwj2026.05.02

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