Erosion behaviour of WC–10Co–4Cr coating on 23-8-N nitronic steel by HVOF thermal spraying

Abstract

WC–10Co–4Cr coating was deposited by high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) process on cast and solution treated (1220°C/150min) 23-8-N nitronic steel substrates. Solution treated substrate has shown higher toughness, ductility and impact energy with a marginal reduction in hardness as compared to cast substrate. This influence the coating deposition efficiency and erosion behaviour. Erosion resistance of coatings was evaluated by air jet erosion tester on two different impact angles (30° and 90°). Phases, microstructure and eroded surface of the coating were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) respectively. It is observed that coating on solution treated substrate was superior to cast substrate. The reason being that coating has dense and well-bonded structure with low porosity, less decarburization and inter-splat oxidation. Higher erosion resistance of coated solution treated 23-8-N nitronic steel was attributed to combination of high fracture toughness and hardness of coating including optimum mechanical properties of the substrate. FESEM analysis reveals that erosion response of WC–10Co–4Cr coating also dependent on the relative size of the impact crater with respect to the WC grain size. Coating is removed by combined mode of ductile and brittle erosion.