Microstructure and property of tungsten carbide particulate reinforced wear resistant coating by TIG cladding

WC particle-reinforced coating with high hardness and excellent wear resistance has been concerned extensively. In this paper, a method via powder core wire fed WC particle and TIG arc for manufacturing thicker WC particlereinforced coatings was provided. The proportion of residual tungsten carbide particles in the coating and the degree of particle dissolution were worthy of attention. Energy per unit volume instead of line energy was used to represent heat input. By reducing the energy per unit volume, the proportion of residual tungsten carbide particles in the coating was increased while reducing the degree of dissolution of tungsten carbide particles. Besides, the crack resistance of the coating is also crucial. Ni and Nb elements were added to the core wire to improve the crack resistance of the coating. The dissolution behavior of tungsten carbide particles, phase composition, and the microstructure evolution of the coating was subsequently analyzed by SEM, EDS, and XRD. Finally, the hardness and wear resistance of the coating was tested, respectively.

Automated summary

This study focused on manufacturing thicker WC particle-reinforced coatings with improved hardness and wear resistance. Factors such as residual particle proportion and dissolution degree were studied, along with the addition of Ni and Nb elements to enhance crack resistance. The dissolution behavior, phase composition, and microstructure evolution of the coating were analyzed using SEM, EDS, and XRD, with final testing conducted on hardness and wear resistance.