Metal powder producer Höganäs AB has developed a method to coat glass moulds using laser cladding rather than plasma transferred arc welding. Höganäs is a reliable and long-term partner for surface coating of moulds in the glass industry, with product offerings including nickel spray and fuse alloys and its blends with carbides, as well as extensive technical support from the Höganäs application development centre, ArcX.

To protect a glass mould against corrosion, abrasion and thermal fatigue, a layer of nickel-based material is often coated on the surface, normally performed by either plasma transferred arc welding or flame spraying surface coating techniques.

ecently, in close collaboration with customers, Höganäs has developed a method to coat the moulds using laser cladding instead of PTA. Laser cladding is an innovative surfacing technique, which has the advantage of lower heat input.

This limits the heat-affected zone on the substrate, which allows for the thermal properties of the mould material to be maintained.

“This represents a real technological leap for the glass industry and laser-cladded glass moulds are now in commercial use” Louise Chen, VP Business Development, Surface & Joining Technologies at Höganäs AB confirms. Furthermore, Höganäs ArcX offers support for mould shops when it comes to material selection, process optimisation and coating evaluations.

www.hoganas.com

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