The study of microstructure of wear-resistant coatings applied for protection from abrasive wear of horizontal and tilt drilling drill bits

Abstract

Drill bits of the cutting type over the period of their existence have undergone significant changes – from the use of carbide cutters to diamond composite PDC elements, in which the diamond layer is applied to a hardmetal substrate. Using such elements, it was possible to significantly increase the service life of the drill bits, however, during work, there is a significant abrasive deterioration of the bit body, which does not fully realize the advantages of PDC elements. Therefore, to protect the body from wear use special wear-resistant coatings. This work is devoted to research of microstructural coatings, namely coatings brands WokaDur NiA, HR-6750, HR-6750 with sublayer Rock Dur 47 on various steel substrates which applied by the gas-thermal spraying in Ltd “Oerlikon Metko Rus”. They were examined with the use of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray phase analysis and a Vickers micro-hardness tester. It was established that the microhardness of the coating matrix is 590–660 HV, and the microhardness of tungsten carbide particles reinforcing the coating, is 2145–2455 HV.