Can it be applied on cast or treated steel?

Yes, laser cladding on cast iron is a well-proven application and, in fact, one of the best technical applications for repairing components made of this material. Cast iron has low weldability due to its high carbon content. This often presents a problem because when heated during the welding process, carbon often segregates and accumulates at the microstructure level at the grain boundaries, weakening the component being repaired.

The advantage of laser cladding is the ability to control the energy input, limiting it to the minimum required to perform the fusion, and in a highly localized manner.

In any case, it is important to note that depending on the materials to be applied to the casting, especially if their coefficients of thermal expansion are very different, stresses can build up, leading to the appearance of fissures and cracks. In these specific cases, more ductile anchoring layers capable of absorbing these stresses must be used, as well as controlled preheating and cooling procedures.