Investigation of Novel Nano-carbide WC/CoCr Coatings Applied by HVAF

Wear leads to high material and energy losses in various industries. The manufacturing of novel nano-carbide WC/CoCr powder feedstock materials promises a further increase in the performance of thermally sprayed wear protection coatings. A novel experimental powder and a commercial ultra-fine carbide WC/CoCr reference are thermally sprayed onto a 1.0038 substrate by High Velocity Air Fuel (HVAF) spraying. The specimens are metallographically prepared and analyzed by means of light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Vickers Hardness testing is conducted by micro-indentation, and the porosities are determined by optical image analysis. X-ray diffractometry (XRD) analysis is used to investigate the phase retention. Fine nanocrystalline WC structures are preserved in the dense coatings. A significant effect of powder type on the porosity of the coating was found. No systematic relationships could be identified between the coating structure and the two parameter settings. It was possible to influence decarburization via both the powder type and the selected parameters. The resulting experimental and commercial nanostructured WC/CoCr coatings exhibit high, narrow hardness values with medians of 1.400 < HV0.3 < 1.470. The novel nanostructured coating can contribute to reduced wear and therefore improve the efficient utilization of critical raw materials like tungsten.