Microstructure and Tribological Properties of WC-Ni Matrix Cermet Coatings Prepared by Electrospark Deposition on H13 Steel Substrate
WANG Wenquan, DU Ming, ZHANG Xinge(), GENG Mingzhang
Key Laboratory of Automobile Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China
Cite this article:
WANG Wenquan, DU Ming, ZHANG Xinge, GENG Mingzhang. Microstructure and Tribological Properties of WC-Ni Matrix Cermet Coatings Prepared by Electrospark Deposition on H13 Steel Substrate. Acta Metall Sin, 2021, 57(8): 1048-1056.
H13 steel is one of the most promising materials for molds owing to its outstanding hardenability, high toughness, and thermal cracking resistance. To reinforce the surface performance and extend service life of H13 steel, a WC-Ni matrix cermet composite coating with a Ni or Mo transition layer was prepared by electrospark deposition on an H13 steel substrate. The phase compositions, microstructure, microhardness, and tribological properties of the coating were investigated in detail. The surface of the WC-Ni coating contained accumulated sputtered deposition spots. The cross section of WC-Ni coating is composed of a coating, a transition layer, and a substrate with a clear boundary; the WC hard phases are dispersed in the coating. The Ni/WC-Ni composite coating surface is relatively smooth and flat, and its phase composition is consistent with that of the WC-Ni coating. The WC hard phases show abnormal growth at the interface. The surface of a Mo/WC-Ni composite coating exhibits microcracks and indicates the formation of a new Fe9.7Mo0.3 phase. Hardness values of the composite coatings are greater than that of the WC-Ni coating, and their friction coefficient and wear loss are lower than that of the H13 steel substrate and WC-Ni coating. In addition, the antiabrasive performance of the Mo/WC-Ni composite coating is better than that of the Ni/WC-Ni composite coating.
Fund: Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(45120031B004);Co-Construction Project of Jilin University and Jilin Province(440050316A14)
About author: ZHANG Xinge, associate professor, Tel: (0431)85094687, E-mail: zhangxinge@jlu.edu.cn
Fig.1 Schematic of electrospark deposition process
Fig.2 XRD spectra of WC-Ni matrix cermet coating (a), Mo/WC-Ni composite coating (b), and Ni/WC-Ni composite coating (c) prepared by electrospark deposition
Fig.3 Surface SEM images of WC-Ni matrix cermet coating (a, b), Mo/WC-Ni composite coating (c), and Ni/WC-Ni composite coating (d) prepared by electrospark deposition
Fig.4 Cross-sectional SEM image (a) and EDS line scanning results (b) of WC-Ni matrix cermet coating prepared by electrospark deposition, and particle size distribution of ceramic phase (c)
Fig.5 Cross-sectional SEM images (a, c) and EDS line scanning results (b, d) of Ni/WC-Ni composite coating (a, b) and Mo/WC-Ni composite coating (c, d) prepared by electrospark deposition
Fig.6 Microhardness distributions of WC-Ni matrix cermet coating, Mo/WC-Ni composite coating, and Ni/WC-Ni composite coating prepared by electrospark deposition
Fig.7 Friction coefficient curves of H13 steel substrate, WC-Ni matrix cermet coating, Mo/WC-Ni composite coating, and Ni/WC-Ni composite coating at room temperature under loadings of 5 and 8 N
Fig.8 Wear weight losses of H13 steel substrate, WC-Ni matrix cermet coating, Mo/WC-Ni composite coating, and Ni/WC-Ni composite coating under loadings of 5 and 8 N
Table 1 EDS results of the square areas marked in Fig.9
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