Simultaneous increase of friction coefficient and wear resistance through HVOF sprayed WC-(nano WC-Co)

Generally, well wear resistance corresponds to low friction coefficient. While, well wear resistance and high friction coefficient are needed in brakes for short braking distance and long serving life. Ceramics possess high hardness which correspond well wear resistance. Cobalt is often used as bond phase of tungsten carbide ceramic, which will increase the toughness of tungsten carbide. While, the stiffness of WC-Co will decrease after cobalt is introduced into tungsten carbide, which will lead to the decrease of friction coefficient. To increase the stiffness and the friction coefficient of WC-Co, nano WC particles were introduced into cobalt binder phase which formed WC-(nano WC-Co). In this work, WC-(nano WC-Co) coatings were prepared through high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) spray on the vermicular iron substrate in order to increase friction coefficient and wear resistance simultaneously. The microstructure, mechanical property and wear performance of the coating were investigated. It was found that the microhardness of WC-(nano WC-Co) coatings had the highest hardness of 1393 +/- 13 HV with 50% nano WC-10Co-4Cr. Meanwhile, its friction coefficient was obviously increased to 0.7, which was three times higher than that of the vermicular cast iron and higher than both of the micro-sized and nano sized WC-Co. Its wear mass loss of WC-(nano WC-Co) coating was much lower than that of the vermicular cast iron and lower than both of the micro-sized and nano sized WC-Co. The friction coefficient and wear resistance of WC-(nano WC-Co) were increased simultaneously.