EHLA: Extreme High-Speed Laser Material Deposition
Economical and effective protection against corrosion and wear
Thomas Schopphoven studied mechanical engineering at the RWTH Aachen University, Germany. He works as research associate within the “Laser Material Deposition”-group at the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen, where his ongoing research focuses on extreme high-speed laser material deposition, EHLA.
Andres Gasser studied applied physics at the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany. He is manager of the “Laser Material Deposition”-group at the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen.
Gerhard Backes studied physical technology at the FH Aachen in Jülich, Germany. His main work today is in the field of Laser Material Deposition. He is responsible for development and repair of aero-engine components with LMD and layed foundations for the EHLA process and its patent.
Abstract
Special coatings protect components against corrosion and wear. However, standard processes such as hard chrome plating, thermal spraying, laser material deposition or other deposition welding techniques have drawbacks. For example, as of September 2017, chromium(VI) coatings will require authorization. Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen as well as the RWTH Aachen University have now developed an extreme high-speed laser material deposition process, known by its German acronym EHLA, to eliminate these drawbacks in an economical way.