Development and analysis of tribological behavior of microwave processed EWAC+20% WC10Co2Ni composite cladding on mild steel substrate

The present work is based on the surface modification of mild steel by depositing composite cladding of EWAC+ 20% WC10Co2Ni powder through novel technology of hybrid microwave heating. Claddings of approximately 300 mu m thickness were developed in domestic microwave applicator at 2.45 GHz frequency and 900 W of power. Microstructural analysis and mechanical characterizations were carried out on the developed dads using relevant techniques of XRD, SEM, EDS, Vickers microhardness and wear tests. Pin on disk tribometer was used to evaluate the tribological properties (weight loss) of developed dads under the different loadings and sliding velocities at ambient temperature. Results revealed that dads are formed with good metallurgical bonding with melting and diffusion of substrate material. Developed dads showed the presence of hard carbides in the form of a skeleton like structure within a soft nickel matrix. The wear resistance of composite dads increased by approximately 128 times in comparison to mild steel and average Vickers microhardness of 980 +/- 52 HV has been reported by microwave processed dads. (C) 2015 The Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.