Microstructure and Tribological Behavior of WC-Ni45 Composite Coatings by High-Speed Laser Cladding AITranslate
Abstract AITranslate
High-speed laser cladding （HSLA）is an advanced surface engineering technology capable of fabricating wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant coatings with high bonding strength. 316L stainless steel has been widely utilized in the nuclear field to manufacture high-temperature and corrosion-resistant components due to its outstanding corrosion resistance，good welding performance，and excellent oxidation resistance. Aiming at the issues of surface strengthening and improvement of wear resistance of 316L stainless steel，this paper employed HSLA technology to prepare a defect-free metal/ceramic composite coating with a high ceramic phase content of 55%WC-Ni45 on the surface of 316L stainless steel sheets. Among them，Ni45 self-fluxing alloy powder had a favorable combination of strength and toughness，and WC ceramic particles possessed extremely high hardness and a relatively low thermal expansion coefficient，with good wettability between the two. Under the process conditions of a laser power of 1.2 kW，a scanning speed of 3000 mm·min−1，and a lap rate of 60%，the composite coating was successfully prepared by using the ultra-high-speed laser cladding technology. Subsequently，X-ray diffraction （XRD），scanning electron microscopy （SEM），Vickers hardness tester，and universal mechanical testing machine were utilized to analyze the microstructure and mechanical properties of the cladding coating. Moreover，a wear testing machine was adopted to conduct wear resistance tests on 316L substrate and 55%WC-Ni45 composite coating. The results showed that 55%WC-Ni45 composite coating was mainly composed of Ni-based solid solution，WC，W2C and M23C6 carbides. Compared with XRD diffraction peaks of the mixed powder，the peak position of Ni-based solid solution shifts to the left，indicating that W with a larger atomic size might be dissolved in it. The dissolution of W atoms could play a strengthening role，thereby enhancing the hardness and wear resistance of Ni45 metal phase. During the solidification process of the coating，the differences in temperature gradient and solidification rate at different positions led to the growth law of Ni45 microstructure changing from cellular crystals，columnar crystals to dendrites and equiaxed crystals from the bottom to the top. WC particles in the coating were uniformly distributed，and different degrees of dissolution-diffusion and precipitation occurred around them，and bright white structures were formed near WC particles. From the bottom to the top of 55%WC-Ni45 composite coating，the area of the bright white structures near WC particles gradually decreased，indicating that the degree of dissolution-diffusion of WC gradually decreased. This was mainly due to the gradual increase in the cooling rate （R） from the bottom to the top of 55%WC-Ni45 composite coating. The results of energy dispersive spectroscopy （EDS）characterization showed that W element was mainly distributed inside the unmelted WC particles，partly diffused into the white blocky and lamellar structures around WC particles，and a small amount of W element was also diffused into Ni45 dendritic structures far away from WC particles. Fe，Cr and Ni elements were mainly distributed in the dendritic structures，with a small amount diffused into the interior of WC particles. The element diffusion phenomenon between WC and Ni45 microstructure was obvious，and good metallurgical bonding was achieved. The average hardness of WC ceramic phase in the composite coating was HV0.2 2634.46，and that of Ni45 metal phase was HV0.2 758.67. The average hardness of 55%WC-Ni45 composite coatingwasHV10 1151.10，which was approximately five times that of the substrate. 55%WC-Ni45 composite coating formed good metallurgical bonding with the substrate，with a shear strength of 252.19 MPa. The main fracture mode of 55%WC-Ni45 composite coating was brittle fracture. The average friction coefficient of 55%WC-Ni45 composite coating was approximately 0.61，which was lower than that of 316L stainless steel （0.76），and the volume wear rate was 2.14×10−8 mm3·N−1·m−1，which as reduced by approximately 89.7% compared with 316L substrate. After the friction and wear test，the surface of 316L substrate formed typical "V"-shaped wear marks，with a large number of ploughing grooves and micro-cutting marks inside the wear marks，and the deepest part of the wear marks reached more than 30 μm. However，after the friction and wear test of 55%WC/Ni45 composite coating，only Ni45 metal phase within the wear mark range was removed by grinding，WC hard phase particles were hardly worn and obviously protrude from the surface，and the maximum depth of the wear mark was only about 10 μm. The main wear mechanism of 55%WC/Ni45 composite coating was abrasive wear. The multiple strengthening mechanisms of the metal/ceramic composite coating，such as solid solution strengthening，dispersion strengthening，and fine grain strengthening，jointly improved the overall hardness of the coating，which was the main reason for the improvement of the coating's wear resistance. WC particles were uniformly distributed in the coating，playing a role in supporting the coating structure and resisting wear.
KeyWords AITranslate
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Basic Information:
DOI：10.13373/j.cnki.cjrm.XY24110034
Chinese Library Classification Number:TG174.4
Citation Information:
High-speed laser cladding （HSLA）is an advanced surface engineering technology capable of fabricating wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant coatings with high bonding strength. 316L stainless steel has been widely utilized in the nuclear field to manufacture high-temperature and corrosion-resistant components due to its outstanding corrosion resistance，good welding performance，and excellent oxidation resistance. Aiming at the issues of surface strengthening and improvement of wear resistance of 316L stainless steel，this paper employed HSLA technology to prepare a defect-free metal/ceramic composite coating with a high ceramic phase content of 55%WC-Ni45 on the surface of 316L stainless steel sheets. Among them，Ni45 self-fluxing alloy powder had a favorable combination of strength and toughness，and WC ceramic particles possessed extremely high hardness and a relatively low thermal expansion coefficient，with good wettability between the two. Under the process conditions of a laser power of 1.2 kW，a scanning speed of 3000 mm·min−1，and a lap rate of 60%，the composite coating was successfully prepared by using the ultra-high-speed laser cladding technology. Subsequently，X-ray diffraction （XRD），scanning electron microscopy （SEM），Vickers hardness tester，and universal mechanical testing machine were utilized to analyze the microstructure and mechanical properties of the cladding coating. Moreover，a wear testing machine was adopted to conduct wear resistance tests on 316L substrate and 55%WC-Ni45 composite coating. The results showed that 55%WC-Ni45 composite coating was mainly composed of Ni-based solid solution，WC，W2C and M23C6 carbides. Compared with XRD diffraction peaks of the mixed powder，the peak position of Ni-based solid solution shifts to the left，indicating that W with a larger atomic size might be dissolved in it. The dissolution of W atoms could play a strengthening role，thereby enhancing the hardness and wear resistance of Ni45 metal phase. During the solidification process of the coating，the differences in temperature gradient and solidification rate at different positions led to the growth law of Ni45 microstructure changing from cellular crystals，columnar crystals to dendrites and equiaxed crystals from the bottom to the top. WC particles in the coating were uniformly distributed，and different degrees of dissolution-diffusion and precipitation occurred around them，and bright white structures were formed near WC particles. From the bottom to the top of 55%WC-Ni45 composite coating，the area of the bright white structures near WC particles gradually decreased，indicating that the degree of dissolution-diffusion of WC gradually decreased. This was mainly due to the gradual increase in the cooling rate （R） from the bottom to the top of 55%WC-Ni45 composite coating. The results of energy dispersive spectroscopy （EDS）characterization showed that W element was mainly distributed inside the unmelted WC particles，partly diffused into the white blocky and lamellar structures around WC particles，and a small amount of W element was also diffused into Ni45 dendritic structures far away from WC particles. Fe，Cr and Ni elements were mainly distributed in the dendritic structures，with a small amount diffused into the interior of WC particles. The element diffusion phenomenon between WC and Ni45 microstructure was obvious，and good metallurgical bonding was achieved. The average hardness of WC ceramic phase in the composite coating was HV0.2 2634.46，and that of Ni45 metal phase was HV0.2 758.67. The average hardness of 55%WC-Ni45 composite coatingwasHV10 1151.10，which was approximately five times that of the substrate. 55%WC-Ni45 composite coating formed good metallurgical bonding with the substrate，with a shear strength of 252.19 MPa. The main fracture mode of 55%WC-Ni45 composite coating was brittle fracture. The average friction coefficient of 55%WC-Ni45 composite coating was approximately 0.61，which was lower than that of 316L stainless steel （0.76），and the volume wear rate was 2.14×10−8 mm3·N−1·m−1，which as reduced by approximately 89.7% compared with 316L substrate. After the friction and wear test，the surface of 316L substrate formed typical "V"-shaped wear marks，with a large number of ploughing grooves and micro-cutting marks inside the wear marks，and the deepest part of the wear marks reached more than 30 μm. However，after the friction and wear test of 55%WC/Ni45 composite coating，only Ni45 metal phase within the wear mark range was removed by grinding，WC hard phase particles were hardly worn and obviously protrude from the surface，and the maximum depth of the wear mark was only about 10 μm. The main wear mechanism of 55%WC/Ni45 composite coating was abrasive wear. The multiple strengthening mechanisms of the metal/ceramic composite coating，such as solid solution strengthening，dispersion strengthening，and fine grain strengthening，jointly improved the overall hardness of the coating，which was the main reason for the improvement of the coating's wear resistance. WC particles were uniformly distributed in the coating，playing a role in supporting the coating structure and resisting wear.
quote
| GB/T 7714-2015 | [1] Yu Sun, Wenbo Zhao, Qing Chen, et al. Microstructure and Tribological Behavior of WC-Ni45 Composite Coatings by High-Speed Laser Cladding[J]. Chinese Journal of Rare Metals, 2025, 49(10): 1527-1540. DOI:10.13373/j.cnki.cjrm.XY24110034. |
| MLA | [1] Yu Sun, et al., "Microstructure and Tribological Behavior of WC-Ni45 Composite Coatings by High-Speed Laser Cladding." Chinese Journal of Rare Metals, vol. 49, no. 10, 2025, pp. 1527-1540, https://doi.org/10.13373/j.cnki.cjrm.XY24110034. |
| APA | [1] Yu Sun, Wenbo Zhao, Qing Chen, Xuxing Duan, Jiayin He, Wanze Zhong, Yongxin Jian, & Yiwen Lin. (2025). Microstructure and Tribological Behavior of WC-Ni45 Composite Coatings by High-Speed Laser Cladding. Chinese Journal of Rare Metals, 49(10), 1527-1540. https://doi.org/10.13373/j.cnki.cjrm.XY24110034 |
| IEEE | [1] Yu Sun, Wenbo Zhao, Qing Chen, Xuxing Duan, Jiayin He, Wanze Zhong, Yongxin Jian, and Yiwen Lin, "Microstructure and Tribological Behavior of WC-Ni45 Composite Coatings by High-Speed Laser Cladding," Chinese Journal of Rare Metals, vol. 49, no. 10, pp. 1527-1540, 2025, doi: 10.13373/j.cnki.cjrm.XY24110034. keywords: {high-speed laser cladding;metal-ceramic composite coating;microstructure;friction and wear} |