Metal cladding refers to a technique used to coat one metal with another metal using a bonding process. This process results in a composite material that combines the desirable properties of both metals. Metal cladding is typically used in the construction industry to provide a durable and aesthetically pleasing finish to buildings.
Metal cladding can be achieved using several different techniques, including:
Roll bonding involves passing two or more metals through a set of rollers to bond them together. The metals are first cleaned and then heated to a specific temperature before being passed through the rollers. Roll bonding is commonly used for cladding aluminum onto steel or copper onto aluminum.
Explosive bonding involves using an explosion to bond two metals together. In this process, the two metals are first cleaned and then placed in contact with each other. An explosive charge is then detonated, causing the two metals to bond together. Explosive bonding is commonly used for cladding stainless steel onto aluminum or copper.
Hot-dip galvanizing involves coating a metal, typically steel, with a layer of zinc to provide corrosion resistance. The metal is first cleaned and then dipped into a bath of molten zinc. The zinc coating forms a protective layer over the steel, preventing it from corroding. Hot-dip galvanizing is commonly used for cladding structural steel components.
Metal cladding offers several advantages over other finishing techniques. It provides a durable and long-lasting finish that is resistant to weathering, corrosion and impact damage. It can also improve buildings' energy efficiency by providing an additional layer of insulation. Metal cladding can be used on both new and existing buildings, and it can be customized to meet specific design requirements.
Laser cladding involves using a laser to melt and consolidate a powdered or wire material, then using the melted material to coat part of a substrate or fabricate a near-net shape part. Laser cladding is normally used to improve mechanical properties, increase corrosion resistance, repair worn out parts and fabricate metal matrix composites.
Metal cladding has several advantages, including:
- Increasing wearing parts' lifetimes.
- Repairing unavailable or hard-to-fabricate parts.
- Facilitating graded material application.
- Facilitating near-net-shape manufacturing.
- Reducing dilution between track and substrate.
- Reducing deformation of the substrate and small heat affected zone (HAZ).
- Maintaining a fast cooling rate and fine microstructure.
- Eliminating crack and porosity in the built part.
- Material flexibility (metal, ceramic, even polymer).
- Compact technology.