Grinding Performance of Laser Cladding WC/Fe Coatings by Different Adding Methods of WC Particles

Abstract

Laser cladding coatings generally need a follow-up grinding process to acquire the desired dimensional accuracy and surface roughness. In this paper, grinding experimental studies were set up to investigate the grinding performance of iron-based matrix composite coatings (WC/Fe with in situ and ex situ WC particles), using two types of grinding wheels. The influence of grinding parameters such as the cut depth, wheel speed and type of grinding wheel on grinding forces, force ratio, specific energy, surface roughness and the surface appearance of the two coatings was studied. The forming mechanism of the subsurface damages on the two ground coatings was discussed. Experimental results revealed that there were obvious differences between the two coatings in grinding forces, surface roughness and morphology, especially in the subsurface damages. These were attributed to their difference in size and the distribution of the WC particles, as well as their different mechanical properties.