Tungsten Carbide Surface Coatings: HVOF Vs Laser Cladding

Tungsten Carbide Coating: Why?

● High hardness (68 - 71 HRC)
● Extreme9ly high wear resistance
● Extremely high compressive strength (6100 MPa)

Tungsten Carbide Coating: Where?

● High wear parts Fig [1] - Tungsten Carbide treatment using high velocity
● Tooling oxygen-fuel application

● Industrial machinery

Tungsten Carbide Coating: How?

● Thermal Spray
○ High Velocity Oxygen-Fuel (HVOF)
○ High Velocity Air-Fuel (HVAF)
● Laser Cladding

Fig [2] - Laser Cladding application

[1] Durit Hartmetall GmbH. (2019). HVOF - Hochgeschwindigkeits-Flammspritzen (High Velocity Oxi-Fuel) by DURIT. [Online Video]. 29 March 2019. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYj60ctAmAY&ab_channel=DuritHartmetallGmbH. [Accessed: 18 March 2021].
[2]Preco Inc.. (2019). Laser Cladding of a Trailer Hitch Ball. [Online Video]. 1 August 2020. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYj60ctAmAY&ab_channel=DuritHartmetallGmbH. [Accessed: 18 March 2021].
[3] D Cheng et al 2002 Modelling Simul. Mater. Sci. Eng. 11 R1
[4] Xu, G., et al. (2006). "Characteristic behaviours of clad layer by a multi-layer laser cladding with powder mixture of Stellite-6 and tungsten carbide." Surface and Coatings Technology 201(6): 3385-3392.
[5] Verdon, C., Karimi, A., and Martin, J.-L., 1998. A study of high velocity oxy-fuel thermally sprayed tungsten carbide based coatings. Part 1: Microstructures. Materials Science and Engineering: A, 246 (1-2), 11–24.
[6] Hu, D., Liu, Y., Chen, H., and Wang, M., 2020. Microstructure and wear resistance of Ni-based tungsten carbide coating by laser cladding on tunnel boring machine cutter ring. Surface and Coatings Technology, 404, 126432. Jayden Shaw - 715397X
 HVOF/HVAF vs Laser Cladding
HVOF Laser Cladding

● Form of thermal spray ● Concentrated heat source

● Low heat input - less distortion ● Low thermal distortion due to low
● Mechanical bond to substrate substrate energy absorption
● Applicable for thin surface ● Metalurgic bond
layering/protection ● Can be applied in thicker applications
● Lower cost then laser cladding

Fig [3] - General process for HVOF Fig [4] - General process for WC cladding using laser cladding

[1] Durit Hartmetall GmbH. (2019). HVOF - Hochgeschwindigkeits-Flammspritzen (High Velocity Oxi-Fuel) by DURIT. [Online Video]. 29 March 2019. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYj60ctAmAY&ab_channel=DuritHartmetallGmbH. [Accessed: 18 March 2021].
[2]Preco Inc.. (2019). Laser Cladding of a Trailer Hitch Ball. [Online Video]. 1 August 2020. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYj60ctAmAY&ab_channel=DuritHartmetallGmbH. [Accessed: 18 March 2021].
[3] D Cheng et al 2002 Modelling Simul. Mater. Sci. Eng. 11 R1
[4] Xu, G., et al. (2006). "Characteristic behaviours of clad layer by a multi-layer laser cladding with powder mixture of Stellite-6 and tungsten carbide." Surface and Coatings Technology 201(6): 3385-3392.
[5] Verdon, C., Karimi, A., and Martin, J.-L., 1998. A study of high velocity oxy-fuel thermally sprayed tungsten carbide based coatings. Part 1: Microstructures. Materials Science and Engineering: A, 246 (1-2), 11–24.
[6] Hu, D., Liu, Y., Chen, H., and Wang, M., 2020. Microstructure and wear resistance of Ni-based tungsten carbide coating by laser cladding on tunnel boring machine cutter ring. Surface and Coatings Technology, 404, 126432. Jayden Shaw - 715397X
 Final Comments on Tungsten Carbide Cladding - HVOF vs Laser Cladding

● Both applications are relatively low heat providing minimal thermal distortion
● Metallurgical bond of laser cladding more beneficial for high speed applications
● HVOF better for quicker, rapid application
● micro structures differ
○ HVOF known for stacking faults and dislocations

Fig [5] SEM micrograph showing the morphology Fig [6] SEM micrograph showing the morphology
and structure of the HVOF WC coating and structure of the polished HVOF WC coating
[1] Durit Hartmetall GmbH. (2019). HVOF - Hochgeschwindigkeits-Flammspritzen (High Velocity Oxi-Fuel) by DURIT. [Online Video]. 29 March 2019. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYj60ctAmAY&ab_channel=DuritHartmetallGmbH. [Accessed: 18 March 2021].
[2]Preco Inc.. (2019). Laser Cladding of a Trailer Hitch Ball. [Online Video]. 1 August 2020. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYj60ctAmAY&ab_channel=DuritHartmetallGmbH. [Accessed: 18 March 2021].
[3] D Cheng et al 2002 Modelling Simul. Mater. Sci. Eng. 11 R1
[4] Xu, G., et al. (2006). "Characteristic behaviours of clad layer by a multi-layer laser cladding with powder mixture of Stellite-6 and tungsten carbide." Surface and Coatings Technology 201(6): 3385-3392.
[5] Verdon, C., Karimi, A., and Martin, J.-L., 1998. A study of high velocity oxy-fuel thermally sprayed tungsten carbide based coatings. Part 1: Microstructures. Materials Science and Engineering: A, 246 (1-2), 11–24.
[6] Hu, D., Liu, Y., Chen, H., and Wang, M., 2020. Microstructure and wear resistance of Ni-based tungsten carbide coating by laser cladding on tunnel boring machine cutter ring. Surface and Coatings Technology, 404, 126432. Jayden Shaw - 715397X