Friction, wear and corrosion of laves-hardened nickel alloy hardsurfacing in sodium

Abstract

This paper gives the results of friction, wear and corrosion tests on Tribaloy 700 specimens. The Tribaloy alloys are a family of materials typically consisting of a hard intermetallic Laves phase dispersed in a cobalt or nickel eutectic or solid solution matrix. Only one alloy of the Tribaloy series, Tribaloy 700, is a cobalt-free nickel-based alloy. Tribaloy 700 is therefore of interest for nuclear reactor applications, where cobalt must be restricted. Tribaloy 700 rubbing against itself in sodium exhibited one of the lowest friction coefficients measured for metallic materials at high temperature. Detonation gun coatings had lower friction and lower corrosion rates than plasma coatings had, in general. The wear rate of Tribaloy 700 was negligible. Its surface damage resistance was good, especially for contact with itself or with other hard materials. The materials also exhibited low corrosion rates in sodium.