Development of Wire- and Powder-based Laser Metal Deposition Process for Locally Modified Mechanical Properties of X37CrMoV5-1 Tool Steel

The purpose of the thesis was to develop a novel laser metal deposition process by combining both wire and powder deposition techniques. The process was developed in order to locally modify the properties of microstructure of H11 hot-work tool steel, i.e., hardness and grain size refinement. The modified material was later deposited on the surface of H11 hot forging dies to improve local properties to mitigate the local dominant failure mechanisms, i.e., wear and heat checking.