Study on Microstructure and Properties of Ni-WC Gradient Composite Coating by Ultrasonic Assisted Laser Cladding

doi:10.3901/JME.2025.10.164

Abstract

Abstract: With the improvement of the surface performance requirements of key components in industrial machinery and equipment in extreme environments, Ni-WC functionally graded material(FGM) shows more extensive application potential in improving the surface performance of key components. In this study, Ni-WC gradient composite coatings are prepared on H13 steel substrate by Ultrasonic-assisted laser cladding(UALC). By controlling the mixing ratio of WC particles and Ni60 powder, three coatings with different WC contents (WC15, WC25, WC35) are successfully constructed. The introduction of ultrasonic vibration significantly optimizes the microstructure of the coating, reduces internal defects such as cracks and pores, and improves the compactness and uniformity of the coating. The results show that gradient design and ultrasonic assistance can effectively reduce the internal cracks and pores of the coating and improve the forming quality of the coating. Ultrasonic assisted promotes material exchange between layers, reduces stress concentration and performance differences; the hardness, wear resistance and impact resistance of the gradient coating assisted by ultrasonic are improved. Compared with the traditional multi-layer single WC25 coating, the hardness is increased by about 10%, the wear rate is reduced by 55.56%, and the impact absorption work is increased by 18.7%. The ultrasonic gradient coating exhibits the best impact toughness, and the fracture analysis shows that it has more dimples. The research results confirm the effectiveness of UALC technology in improving the performance of gradient coatings, and provide a new technical approach for surface strengthening of key mechanical components.

Key words: laser cladding, Ni-WC gradient coating, ultrasound assistance, wear resistance, impact resistance

CLC Number:

TN249

HAO Jingbin, DU Qin, NIU Qingwei, FU Tianchi, LIU Hao, YANG Haifeng, LIU Xinhua. Study on Microstructure and Properties of Ni-WC Gradient Composite Coating by Ultrasonic Assisted Laser Cladding[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2025, 61(10): 164-177.

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