Wear resistance properties of micron-WC reinforced Ni60 coating by high frequency induction cladding

The tungsten carbide (WC)reinforced Ni60A alloy composite coatings were prepared on Q235 mild steel by high frequency induction cladding.Abrasive wear resistance was carried out with MLS-225 wet sand rubber wheel tester.The microstructure and wore surface of coatings were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM)and X-ray diffractometer (XRD)were applied to investigate the phase composition.The results showed that the hardness and abrasive wear resistance of the coating increase with addition of WC content in the same condition.When WC is less than 30% fraction, WC were not distributed uniformly, mainly dispersed in the central of the coating, while Cr₇C₃ was in large elongated, polyhedral shape, which reduce the wear resistance.Coating has the best abrasive wear resistance which is 6.5 times higher than Ni60A coating due to the optimal matching between WC and Ni alloy with 50%WC addition.While the reults with 60%WC showed the highest hardness, porosity and the lower wear resistance.Partial melting of WC particles were peeled out under successive abrasive grains, which created the large cavities and pits in the coating.The composite coating was metallurgical bonded to the substrate.Predominant wear mechanism of the coating was brittle peeling of hard phases and less micro-ploughing.