Microstructure and Tribological Properties of WC-Ni Cermet Coatings Prepared by Ultrasonic-assisted Electro-spark Powder Deposition

doi:10.3901/JME.2021.23.252

Abstract

Abstract: To improve some problem of tool electrode prefabrication in traditional electro-spark deposition (ESD) technology, such as high cost, complex process and limited material selection, a novel ultrasonic-assisted electro-spark powder deposition (UEPD) process is developed. By using this UEPD process, a WC-Ni cermet coating is successfully fabricated on 316 L stainless steel. The cermet coating has an average thickness of approximately 89-159 μm and surface roughness of approximately 3.672 μm, which also exhibits good metallurgical bonding with the substrate. The introduction of ultrasonic vibration can effectively improve the forming quality of coatings. The microstructure in the coating mainly presents submicron-dendrites, which mainly contain FeNi、Cr₃Ni、WC、W₂C、Cr₂₃C₆ and Cr₃C₂. These refined grains and hard reinforcements significantly increase the hardness of the cermet coating. As a result, the average hardness of cermet coating reached 980.68 HV, which is about 4.1 times of the substrate. The friction and wear test shows that the wear rate of cermet coating decreases by 50.7% and 37.7%, respectively, compared to the substrate and Ni-bases alloy coating without WC addition. Moreover, the friction coefficient of cermet coating is also significantly lower than that of other two specimens. The wear mechanism of WC-Ni cermet coating is mainly fatigue wear and abrasive wear. The high hardness surface and the wear debris layer with granular flow lubrication are the main reasons for achieving the high wear resistance and low friction of cermet coating. Compared to the traditional ESD process, the UEPD process saves the complicated prefabrication process of tool electrode, which has a simpler process, lower cost, wider material selection and a good preparation quality and properties of coating. Therefore, the proposed of UEPD process provides a new idea for the development of ESD technology.

Key words: electro-spark deposition, cermet coating, microstructure, microhardness, friction and wear

CLC Number:

TG174

ZHAO Hang, GAO Chang, WU Xiaoyu, XU Bin, LEI Jianguo. Microstructure and Tribological Properties of WC-Ni Cermet Coatings Prepared by Ultrasonic-assisted Electro-spark Powder Deposition[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2021, 57(23): 252-261.

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