Production of coatings in the micrometer range (i.e.: with features smaller than 100 micrometers) is still a challenge. Extending the well established thin film techniques such as CVD, PLD or sputtering to produce thicker coatings means to invest a huge amount of time in producing such coatings. On the other hand the techniques available to produce thick coatings such as plasma spray, flame spray, or laser cladding are not suitable to produce coatings in the micrometer range.
In order to provide an adequate response to this challenge, a new technique called laser micro-cladding has been developed to produce clad strips with geometrical characteristics in the micrometer range. Main feature of laser micro-cladding processing is the ability to reduce the thermal load applied to the substrate but keeping the good mechanical properties of the coating material.
A new experimental set-up based on the use of a single mode fibre laser and a powder micro-feeder was used to produce the micro-coatings. The study of the influence of several processing parameters on the geometric features of the clad strips was carried out.