Microstructure and wear performance of a WC-12Co coating obtained by HVOF process

F. TOUGHERGHI*1, K. KHENFFER1 code:P.142
1
Laboratory of Materials Sciences and Engineering, USTHB Algeria . ,

1.Introduction 3.2 Micro hardness Vickers (HV)

To confirm the results of the micro-structural study for the substrate and coating, Vickers micro-hardness test were
Steels are used in different mechanical applications which require good protection against wear and corrosion carried out for the samples. We find that the micro-hardness measurements at the grain media of coating WC-12Co
problems. The high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) technique can be applied to deposit coatings with high cohesive are the highest 1037 HV. The interface has a microhardness of 413 HV then an almost hardness on the substrate
strength and superior mechanical properties [1-2]. Many types of engineering components are commonly used 290-304HV. The curve of the microhardness of the sample is presented in Fig.4.
WC-Co composite coatings to improve corrosion resistance. WC-Co coatings are used to deposit by thermal
spray techniques such as aerial plasma spraying (APS) and high-speed oxygen fuel (HVOF) [3-4].
The adhesion of plasma sprayed WC-Co depends on many parameters like the spray system, spray parameters,
powder morphology, residual stress in the coating, substrate roughness and coating layer before. If adhesion to
the WC-Co coating on a part is not sufficient during the operating time, the coating may be removed, resulting in
failure of the mechanism [5].Berndt reported that some chemical reactions may occur between the bonding layer
and the steel substrate. In addition, the junction layer may increase the adhesive strength of the resulting coating
by reducing the residual stress in the coating, which results from the thermal expansion of the coating on the
substrate [6].

2. Experimental part
2.1. Specimen
For the study of microstructure and wear test, the base material is stainless steel 304L cut into disk pieces of
25mm * 5mm.
2.2. Coating Deposition
Commercially available coating powder WC-12Co (15-45 µm) has been used in the present study to provide
resistance against wear. A high velocity oxy-fuel technique is used to deposit the coating on the materials by
applying the HIPOJET 2700 (MEC-INDIA) water cooled thermal spray process Fig.1 with distance of 240 mm. Fig.4: curve of micro hardness of sample (coating /substrate).
The process variables used for the thermal spray process are listed in Table1.

Table 1: The process variables used for the thermal spray 3.3 Wear test
process.
The wear rate is translated by a predominant loss of material. This corresponds to the formation of debris coming
mainly from the degradation of the material on the surface of the samples. The wear rate and the wear track result
Oxygen Propane HAVA
are showing in the fig.5a and 5b.

250 SLPM 60 SLPM 650 SLPM

15bar 8bar 6bar

Fig.1: schematic illustration of HVOF process [7].

2.3. Microscopic analysis

The microscopic structure of the coating was observed using optical microscopy OM OPTIKA. The SEM used in
this study is the JEOL JSM6360 scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and spectroscopy of X-ray diffused energy
(EDS) is used to describe the wear test.
2.4. microhardness test
Vickers microhardness was measured using a standard bench top indentation tester (Wilson®Tukon 2500) at an
indentation load of 300 g with 15 s total loading time. Fig.5: a) Wear rate of sample WC-12Co. b) Wear track representation of depth and width of
2.5. Abrasive wear test the coating.
The abrasive wear test was carried out on a pin-on-disc tribometer (NTURKYUSN, TURKEY). A linear abrasive
wear with WC ball with diameter of 6 mm and was used to section the WC-12Co samples. After wear test we
calculate the wear rate using this equation: The investigations of the surface by SEM at higher magnification allowed us to obtain information on the type of
wear encountered in our case. Indeed; we see in fig.6. (c), compaction of the debris by the ball and in Fig.6 (d) a
Where V is the wear track volume (mm3) F is the applied load (N), L is the sliding distance (mm), and W R is the plastic deformation phenomenon, which confirms adhesive wear damage.
wear rate (mm³/N.mm-1).

Fig.2: schematic illustration of the WC-12Co sample.

Fig. 6: SEM pictures of worn surface of the sample WC-12Co for 7N charge.

3.Result and discussion 4. CONCLUSION

3.1 Microscopic characterization (OM)
The micrograph of the sample (Fig .3) produced by optical microscope shows the structure of the coating-
substrate, where an interface line. The coating has a homogeneous morphology. The existence of the porosity at the
level of coating and the interface is remarkable.
Surface treatment has an importance in the industrial field because of these applications such as nozzles of water jet
cutting tools, rolls for paper and foil producing industries, rolls for paper and foil producing industries, sliding areas
of pressing irons.
The HVOF process was used for the deposition of WC-12Co coatings, to increase the substrate resistance against
wear and corrosion.
The coatings obtained by this process having a good adhesion due to their high density, the level of oxides formed
are very low, which increases the mechanical and physic-chemical properties.

Fig.3: Optical micrograph of the sample (coating /substrate).
5. References
[1] Kaushal Kumar. Erosion Wear Investigation of HVOF Sprayed WC-10Co4Cr Coating on Slurry Pipeline Materials. Coatings 2017, 7,54;
doi:10.3390/coatings7040054.
[2] Kulu, P.; Käerdi, H.; Surzenkov, A. Recycled hard metal-based powder composite coatings: Optimisation of composition, structure and
properties. Int. J. Mater. Prod. Technol. 2014, 49, 180–202.
[3] F. Ghadami. Effect of bond coat and post-heat treatment on the adhesion of air plasma sprayed WC-Co coatings. Surface & Coatings
Technology 261 (2015) 289–294
[4] C.J. Li, A. Ohmori, Y. Harada, J. Therm. Spray Technol. 5 (1996) 69–73.
[5] M.H. Staia, E. Ramos, A. Carrasquero, A. Roman, J. Lesage, D. Chicot, G. Mesmacque, Thin Solid Films 377–378 (2000) 657–664.
[6] C.C. Berndt, The adhesion of flame and plasma sprayed coatings, Monash University,1980.
[7] Ivosevic, Milan and Knight, Richard and Kalidindi, Surya and Palmese, Giuseppe and Sutte, J.K.,Solid particle erosion resistance of thermally
sprayed functionally graded polymer/ceramic coatings,Proceedings of the International Thermal Spray Conference,2004, p498-503